Paper Angels

An Announcement...

2012-02-03T00:10:00.000+08:00

Jon popped the question last night, and I said yes. I think it deserves slightly more of a story, so we'll post that up over the weekend.

Marriage is a really good thing. But it is not the best thing. And as we enter this new phase of life, we're still growing in sorrow over sin, and rejoicing over grace. We won't be the richest couple out there in income but we'll be the richest in fellowship with the Spirit. We have nothing worth envying, and everything worth having.

"Those going nowhere can have no fellow travellers." (Tim Keller)

Marriage is not the goal. Christ is.

photography by kim scarsella

Who is the Christian?

2012-01-30T02:25:00.000+08:00

Just some thoughts that have been on my mind lately. We are going through the book of Galatians in church now. So much grace in it that it's hard to think of anything else. What are you savouring today?

photography by sara langston

Happy Chinese New Year

2012-01-25T10:04:00.002+08:00

1. Oasis Shift Dress with Scallop Pockets
2. Coral Reef in Mandarin Pillow Cover
3. Upwardly Mobile Satchel in Yellow
4. Mustard Hair Bow
5. No Need to Spree Heel in Tan
6. Fox Earrings by TheTinyFig
7. Wilko Single Stem Pink Blossom

Hope everyone's had a good time eating good food and getting lots of money from married people.

It's the new year again. A time of second chances, even more forgiveness and starting afresh. I'm not sure how 2012 has been treating you. But just as Chinese New Year is a time of receiving unreservedly, I hope the Year of the Dragon teaches us to do just that—to keep receiving God's love and mercy everyday.

Self Esteem? Or Self Centred?

2012-01-20T23:07:00.000+08:00

"This is the first time I've heard someone say that the concept of self esteem is self-centred." - my tutor.

It's not very fun being the one dissenting opinion in a class that rates self-esteem highly. "Just believe in yourself." "Have faith in yourself otherwise no one will."

"I guess I just don't want my students to focus on themselves. I want them to look outside of themselves and put others first. I don't want them to give themselves a pat on the back for being special and unique. That's not gonna hold up when they hit a major crisis."

It's not that I want my students to look down on themselves. In fact, I don't want them to be looking at themselves at all. When I look at what's inside of me, I feel like despairing. There's so much that needs work and so much that is desperately far from what it should be. So I don't look in. I look up—at the one who is transforming me to be more like himself. When you can gaze at something so beautiful, why focus on the sin within?

Do people go to the Grand Canyon to increase their self-esteem? Probably not. This is, at least, a hint that the deepest joys in life come not from savoring the self, but from seeing splendor. And in the end even the Grand Canyon will not do. We were made to enjoy God... In the cross of Christ, God rescues us from the house of mirrors and leads us out to the mountains and canyons of his majesty.

John Piper, The Goal of God's Love

A part of me aches for people to see this. You are not the centre of God's plan. God is. Do you know how unbelievably liberating this is? To know that you do not carry the weight of God's plan for your life? God does. And he will bring it to completion, with or without your self motivational speeches. Is his plan good? Maybe not in the eyes of this twisted world. But, beloved, he loves you. Nothing will come to you that he has not first suffered. You may not experience earthly comfort, but you will know his love. Can such a thing be construed as sacrifice? Or undeserved grace?

May the love of Jesus fill me,
As the waters fill the sea;
Him exalting, self abasing,
This is victory

Fleeing Sin

2012-01-16T19:43:00.000+08:00

Quite a lot of people ask me why I don't give private tuition, or rather, why I don't charge. I don't because the government gives me enough to be a teacher, and I don't need more than that. And I'm smart enough to know that if I earned more money it would just go to taxi fares and useless things. So, no. Maybe if I needed more money in the future, I'd consider it. But for now, I've got more than what I need. And the price of discontent/ greed/ covetousness is much higher than what I can charge per hour.

Anyway, Jon and I made brownies today. And I made a fish pie for the family. Om nom nom.

photography by: voluumes
instagram photography by me

There is a Thirst

2012-01-10T10:25:00.001+08:00

Been reading through Genesis lately. It is a story about pretty messed up people. The more you read about Abraham, Sarah and their descendants, the less there seems to admire about them. I guess God's chosen people then were no different from God's chosen people today. They're heroes in Hebrews 11 not so that we'll go, "Wow, I want a faith like that" but rather "Wow, I want a God like that." Who took the weak things of this world and justified them and sanctified them and glorified them.

Anyway, as you guys probably noticed, I haven't been around all that much. Here are links to other awesome stuff until my next post...

6 super cute colourful and glittery outfits
Melted chocolate oozing from inside a cookie: who wouldn't want this recipe?
Cute Mormon fashion here and here (who doesn't follow Mormon fashion?)
Sick of colour blocking in interior design? Try some patterns instead.
Two gorgeous beach photoshoots here and here. Too dreamy.
A brilliant video on D&G (No, I meant David and Goliath.) (x-posted on FB)
The story of the Bible in one sentence
The wedding scene from Tangled
All the talks from every Next conference (that Sovereign Grace conference for students)
Best cupcake recipe ever

photography by michael modene

The Past Week, in Instagram

2012-01-03T10:43:00.002+08:00

Had lots of fun with students and other volunteers during a 3 day 2 night stayover at a chalet with TYA (an organisation that helps kids). It was so much fun but slightly bittersweet.

In 2008 I chose between volunteering at TYA and staying at my previous church. Among other disagreements on doctrine, my church wanted me to stop volunteering. I didn't understand why my involvement with TYA was construed as disobedience, especially when just a year ago, they had been the ones telling me to get more involved with it. So I did the unthinkable: I left the church.

Staying on at TYA now means I can never quite close that chapter of my life. Almost all of the other volunteers are from my previous church. I'm continuously reminded of the difficult circumstances under which I left. But the volunteers are genuinely some of the best people I've ever met. And the children are simply incredible. It's one of the greatest privileges of my life to serve there. It does mean partnering with an organisation I don't always agree with. But they have so much to teach me in terms of living and modelling Christian lives that I'm willing to pray fervently and work relentlessly for the fruitfulness of their ministry. It doesn't mean theology doesn't matter. I think the Christ-centredness of the gospel is so attractive that it will triumph in the end, regardless. Until then, we labour to know Christ and to make Christ known, in word and deed, wherever God places us.

* * *

Between chalets and starting another year of university life, there's been New Year celebrations and barbecues and Rock Band and WEC meetings and Sherlock Holmes II. Given how manic the past week has been, I don't think I'm gonna be blogging too frequently over the next few weeks!

* * *

Also, Jon arrived. :) And we've been cooking quite a lot. That's apple crumble, and leftover Christmas ham with vegetable pasta. I'm glad Jon's finally here. God has provided so marvellously. Here's to 6 years together in Singapore, and then to many more years together in mission abroad—God willing.

Things I Want to Remember about 2011

2011-12-27T18:21:00.000+08:00

I looked back at my 2010 list and wow, 2010 was an epic year. I'm not sure how 2011 compares. But let's see...

1. David B's surprise birthday party! I'm so sad I don't get to plan one for him next year! We went round to his house right after CU, party hats and all, and surprised him. Even though Andrew C who had come down from Birmingham had been waiting in Dave's housemate's room for the surprise party to start because we were all late.

2. Cutting everyone's hair in Stare Green. This brought surreal to a whole new level.

3. Jon built me a swing. Ok seriously. A computer scientist built me a swing. This must go down in the history books.

4. Went to China on mission for the third time. With Jon. We discovered how much fun it is to serve alongside each other in mission. Also, I met S Club 7. Oh you think I'm joking. And the Warwick crew was brilliant this year. David B, Puffin, Maz and Bianca: I'm so glad we got to serve together in China. And the students asking, "Is Puffin the most popular boy at his school?" What a hoot.

5. Finished my dissertation while teaching in China. And got some prize for it. Because God likes to provide for us when we least expect and deserve it.

6. Globe Cafe. Thank you so much guys, for four amazing years. We had so much fun. And even though every week was like a ten year old's birthday party, I don't see why we'd rather have done anything else.

7. Singaporean Bible study! Thank you for many brain-twisting sessions on Galatians and debating the place of the law in the life of the Christian today... and for training Jon in the ways of Singlish and in the ways of Singaporean culture. :)

8. Fun conversations with good friends. Yes that trip to England to hand in my dissertation! So glad I got to catch up with old ISEC people. And Singaporeans and Malaysians. It was good.

9. Picnic with the coolest computer scientist around.

10. Found out one of my students from ages back became a Christian. Crazy. And being a teacher at my favourite school.

11. Got re-involved with YA! :) It's a Saturday club thing where you hang out with cool volunteers and cool kids and play games and occasionally force the kids to do work.

12. This year I think I also learnt a bit more about how to live by faith. It was hard when we didn't have much, but God provided for us through it and now I have a salary! Woohoo!

p.s. if you wanna find out 10 things about me click here.

photography by markus nurmi

Christmas fun!

2011-12-26T12:54:00.000+08:00

Hi everyone! Hope you had a great Christmas yesterday. Anyway, here are some great resources on Christmas that have appeared on the blogosphere this year.

Christmas Presents:

Free Book or DVD from Desiring God; they will actually mail it to you. Just fill in your address!
Free Audio Book of When I Don't Desire God; another great Piper work.
Download a free IVP chapter everyday; until Jan 5th for the 12 days of Christmas

On Christmas:

sermons
40 Christmas sermons by Sinclair Ferguson (mp3s); wow!

devotions
8 devotions by Australian Glen on Christmas phrases; it's my favourite blog :)
We Lepers; re-post because it's so good.
J.I. Packer on the Incarnation; one of my favourite meditations on Christmas
Tony Reinke on Handel vs. Dickens; really good devotion on the insufficiency of the secular Christmas about giving and peace and being nice.
Being Distracted by Jesus; just what is happening in your heart this Christmas?

videos
Anti Santy Ranty by Australian Glen; So good and a great springboard to share the gospel. (He's also got the poem in French.)
UCCF's A Christmas Tale; a retelling of the Christmas story down to the grotty details.
A Social Network Christmas; what I'm gonna use to tell the Christmas story.
Advent: God with Us; I've posted this already, but it's too good to leave out.
Odd Thomas: The Incarnation; Like Christian rap.
That's Christmas by St. Helen's Church; real good quality stuff.

Man’s maker was made man,
that He, Ruler of the stars, might nurse at His mother’s breast;
that the Bread might hunger,
the Fountain thirst,
the Light sleep,
the Way be tired on its journey;
that the Truth might be accused of false witness,
the Teacher be beaten with whips,
the Foundation be suspended on wood;
that Strength might grow weak;
that the Healer might be wounded;
that Life might die.
—Augustine.

photography by jukka reverberi

We Lepers: A Devotion on the Incarnation

2011-12-23T15:18:00.000+08:00

Father Damien was a priest who became famous for his willingness to serve lepers.

He moved to Kalawao – a village on the island of Molokai, in Hawaii, that had been quarantined to serve as a leper colony.

For 16 years, he lived in their midst. He learned to speak their language. He bandaged their wounds, embraced the bodies no one else would touch, preached to hearts that would otherwise have been left alone. He organized schools, bands, and choirs. He built homes so that the lepers could have shelter. He built 2,000 coffins by hand so that, when they died, they could be buried with dignity.

Slowly, it was said, Kalawao became a place to live rather than a place to die, for Father Damien offered hope.

Father Damien was not careful about keeping his distance. He did nothing to separate himself from his people. He dipped his fingers in the poi bowl along with the patients. He shared his pipe. He did not always wash his hands after bandaging open sores. He got close. For this, the people loved him.

Then one day he stood up and began his sermon with two words: “We lepers….”

Now he wasn’t just helping them. Now he was one of them. From this day forward, he wasn’t just on their island; he was in their skin. First he had chosen to live as they lived; now he would die as they died. Now they were in it together.

One day God came to Earth and began his message: “We lepers….” Now he wasn’t just helping us. Now he was one of us. Now he was in our skin. Now we were in it together.

From John Ortberg’s God Is Closer Than You Think
(via Trevin Wax)

photography by takahiro urano

He Gives like a God!

2011-12-21T11:49:00.000+08:00

Two quotes about God's amazing love for you to chew on today... and some snapshots:

1. Polar bears are my favourite animal. Actually, I like all animals that start with the letter 'p'. Polar bears, pandas, platypuses, piranhas and penguins.

2. My favourite cookbook even though it is never winter in Singapore

3. A bouquet from Mr. Chase. I know you can't tell from the picture but it has the biggest most amazing red roses I have ever seen. Yes red roses are my favourite roses.

4. And the book of Luke. Which I've just finished. Even though I'm supposed to be at the end of my Bible reading plan. Whoops.

What I love about the book of Luke is how Jesus just continually looks kindly upon and glorifies weak people. In just Luke 18-19, Jesus praises a widow, a tax collector, children, a blind beggar and Zacchaeus (a short and despised tax collector!).

Jesus seems to like sinful people. He draws near to them, not after they've been cleansed of their sin, but while they are still in the midst of their sin.

photography by *dapple dapple, instagram photos by me

Advice for North Korea

2011-12-19T20:25:00.000+08:00

North Korea breaks my heart. Hoping and praying that things will get better.

Fashion + Theology, III

2011-12-18T23:42:00.001+08:00

Where were we?

The last time I posted about clothing, I talked about the purpose of clothing in a Christian's life. I wrote about two purposes in particular: firstly, the purpose of clothing, which is to clothe our nakedness—a reminder of the very first picture of atonement in the Bible. Therefore clothing is not for our vanity but for our humility. The second purpose of clothing (fashion, or dressing aesthetically if you will, in particular) is to dress creatively in a manner that acknowledges and gives glory to our creative and artistic God. Just as there is aesthetic beauty in nature and in the tabernacle humans were instructed to build, so there is value for aesthetic beauty in the life of a Christian, because it reflects the artistry of our Creator God.

Money, money, money

And now we come to the question of stewardship. Clothes cost money. How much is too much? The Bible doesn't say. And so we shouldn't add rules where the Bible doesn't. But Jesus is pretty clear about what he demands from us regarding material possessions. Cue the rich young man:

And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Mark 10:21-22

I've thought about this passage quite a lot. It haunts me because I know I'm just like that rich young man. It's pretty easy to say, God I give you everything. Everything? Yes everything. It's harder to say, yes I'll give my favorite dress away to my friends who are bringing old clothes to a poorer community. Or yes, I'll give my digital camera away to someone else who would really love it. Or yes, I'll give my laptop to the charity shop next door. But that's the kind of person that Jesus counts as a follower. The sort of person who holds his possessions loose. So loose they don't even really belong to him at all. I'm not saying it's wrong to feel attachment to our stuff. I'm just saying that there's a greater joy to be found in giving rather than hoarding.

Symptoms of a Heart Disease

So no, I'm not gonna challenge you to spend less this Christmas. I'm not gonna suggest that you give up shopping, or give more away, or anything like that. I'm just gonna suggest that we all take a look at Matthew 6 where Jesus says that our hearts lie where our treasures are. Don't look at your spending as the problem. Look at it as a symptom. And then ask yourself where your heart really is. And then look back to Calvary. There you'll see Jesus dying on the cross so that he could become your ultimate treasure. Not stuff, not clothes, not money. There you'll see his love for you and his mercy covering all the status and popularity and outward beauty you ever craved. No Bruno Mars song tops God's approval of you in Christ.

Oh, and don't be a stranger. Give me a nod yeah? Because I'll be right there, next to the crimson tide, asking for forgiveness for the same wretched greed that's in me too.

photography by hilda grahnat

Other posts in this series:
Fashion + Theology, I: An Introduction
Fashion + Theology, II: The Purpose of Clothing

China is Beautiful

2011-12-16T22:05:00.001+08:00

The pictures, as promised.

Just gonna say that the comments from yesterday's post are far more helpful with regard to Scripture memory than the post itself (esp. Jon Sng's aka Sngsy), so go have a gander. I've not forgotten it; a post with resources and ideas will come soon.

Spiritual and Physical Food

2011-12-15T20:17:00.001+08:00

Scripture memory is on my mind these holidays. I've got quite a lot of time and I'd like to try to compile or create some resources on how to make the process less mind-numbing and more effective. You know, finding a way to lessen the frustration lurking in the zone where you've repeated the verse 50 times and it's still not sticking. For auditory learners, I guess the first resource I'd recommend is the Bible Experience. It's a pretty cool audio Bible. I'm gonna hunt down more resources over the next few days.

Another thing I'd like to do is plan menus and recipes. Eating's pretty important to me and I spend way too much time being disorganised about it. Any ideas or suggestions for my recipes and menus? Beef is pretty steep in Singapore so I'm gonna have to try to skimp on it.

photography by Svetlana

The Best Resources on Theology (in my opinion)

2011-12-14T10:34:00.000+08:00

Following on from yesterday's list, this is gonna be a post that will constantly be updated with resources on theology that I consider to be classics. They're so good you shouldn't be here: go get stuck in!

Bite-sized

Videos
How He Loves, by David Crowder ft. Matt Chandler and John Piper; Excellent for all who, like me, doubt their salvation.
Jesus Wants the Rose, Matt Chandler; For those who know what it feels like to be used and discarded. Absolute must-watch.
The Bible is not About You, Tim Keller; Essential for all Singaporean Christians. We get taught so much that the Bible is all about what God helps us do and his plan for our lives... is that really what it says?

Articles
Where's the Turning Point? by Glen Scrivener; On the Prodigal Son, such a rich resource on grace that I re-printed it onto all of Warwick CU's houseparty booklets in 2010.
David and Goliath, by Glen Scrivener; This is really the starting point if you think David and Goliath is a story about us overcoming the odds with God's power.
Why We Need Doctrine, by Joshua Harris; If the idea of theology already puts you off because you believe Christianity is more about the heart than the head, start here.
Only One Right Person, by Joshua Harris; A beautiful take towards our attitudes regarding our doctrinal differences with others.

Books
On My Way to Heaven, by Mark Ashton; Mark Ashton's thoughts in the last few months of his life, absolute must-read, on the brevity of life, on God's power to heal, and on funeral eulogies.

Meaty

Talks
Mike Reeves on the Trinity 1, 2, 3 ; if you haven't listened to Mike Reeves on the Trinity, don't even talk to me! You cannot miss this. It will change how you see God, how you pray to him and how you talk about him. The talks are brilliant, nothing less. I'm not sure how many Christians I knew at uni who had not heard Mike Reeves on the Trinity. Maybe none.

Sermons
The Girl Nobody Wanted, Tim Keller; Another look at the story of Jacob, Rachel and Leah.
Neighbours, Tim Keller; This totally changed how I read (and teach) the parable of the Good Samaritan.
The Lost Sons, Tim Keller; Again, this totally changed how I read the parable of the Lost Son(s).

Books
This Momentary Marriage, by John Piper; The Christian view of marriage, with snippets about missionaries and the Puritans. A truly beautiful book.

Super Meaty

Books
Desiring God, by John Piper; If the words Christian and Hedonist seem polar opposites to you, then you need to read this.
The Bruised Reed, by Richard Sibbes; A genuine Puritan classic that will help you see how beautiful Christ really is.

Any suggestions? :)

photograph: Clara Roman

The List, 2011

2011-12-14T00:00:00.000+08:00

For most people, 'the list' refers to the list of qualities they hope to find in a future spouse. For me I made a list some years back, and Jon wasn't on it. Haha. No, a couple years back I made a list of the ten most influential 'famous' preachers/ writers in my life. The good old days where Jon used to stalk me on my blog instead of talking to me in real life. Fast forward two years and I think I'd like to make a new list. Some names on the list haven't changed, but others have. So... presenting the The List, 2011.

Firstly, the big three in terms of seeing the gospel in everything: Tim Keller, Mike Reeves and Glen Scrivener.

Joshua Harris, for his views on theology and the way he consistently articulates a life that is oriented towards God and away from self. John Piper, for still being the benchmark for theology. I run most of my questions by Desiring God before coming to any conclusions. Ben Kwashi, for his theology of suffering and mission. He's a hero.

Ok I guess I cheated a little with the next one. It's not really fair to measure levels of influence once you know someone personally, haha. But while I was at uni, I ran all my gender theories by her and her writings. So Sharon James, for teaching us all and modelling for us what godly womanhood looks like.

Finally, three dead people. Luther: because I spent a year writing about him and was never once bored or short of wonderment at the man. His writings were a spring of comfort in the darkest wells of my soul. Ann Judson for her dedication to Burma and strength in the midst of unspeakable suffering. And finally, Hudson Taylor, whose life I can only hope to emulate one day. He wanted to give 10 000 lives to China. Hopefully Jon and I will have the privilege of being two of them.

Those who almost made the list: Matt Chandler, Spurgeon, Tozer, J.I. Packer, Kevin Deyoung, C.S. Lewis... I'll admit I was partially trying to eschew the old white men overdose, with all their professional preacher photos amidst black studio backgrounds.

What about you? Who are the preachers and writers and missionaries whose writings and sermons influenced you most?

China, again

2011-12-12T10:18:00.001+08:00

I was in China the past week, which is why the posts were far more sporadic: they had all been scheduled. It was awesome. I'll post more pictures shortly. I think I may quite like China.

Fashion + Theology, II

2011-12-10T21:39:00.000+08:00

(cute, right?)

Firstly, let's look at some Bible verses that are commonly quoted with regard to the topic of women's dress:

Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.
1 Peter 3:3-4

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7

And if the Bible ended there then yes there would be no Biblical precedent for aesthetic beauty of any sort. But the Bible doesn't end there. Our God is a Creator. He created nature to be beautiful and to reflect his glory. He created animals and plants and oceans to reflect the splendour of his majesty. And he created us to be creative, too.

I think the question is not that we value external appearances too much, but that we value it for the wrong reasons. We value it because we use it as a tool for self-centredness. We value physical attractiveness for the popularity and status it brings us. When really we should value our gifts and creativity because they remind us of a generous and creative God.

So the next time you walk into a clothing store, think about how generous God is. Think about the first clothes that were created: the fig leaves to cover man's shame and nakedness after the Fall, and the animal skins from the animals God killed to atone for Adam's sin. The covering of our nakedness flows from the first picture of atonement in the Bible. What room is there for vanity when we consider the first clothing given to Adam and Eve?

Then consider his creativity. Consider the beautiful paintings God makes in the skies every morning, evening and night. Think about how you can use the creativity God's given to you to show how creative God is. To show how splendid God is, and the vestiges of beauty that remain in his creation. And let your clothing be a dim shadow of God's creativity and splendour.

The next time I post on the topic will be about the clash between character and clothing, and our attitudes towards spending on ourselves in a world of social injustice.

Having Nothing, Yet Possessing Everything

2011-12-07T00:41:00.000+08:00

Greed. Materialism. Wealth. Words I consider almost synonymous with Singapore. What if I considered that I've got all of eternity to live the lifestyle I want with the clothes I want and the job I want and the standard of living I want? Meanwhile there's a spiritual war going on and a warfare lifestyle isn't quite the same as the self-centred desire to make others envy the stuff I've got.

resources: sc0tt smith

Plunging into Warfare

2011-12-04T23:12:00.000+08:00

Reason #1294 why I want to become a missionary.

credit: Tamotsu Nagata

No One Talks About Fashion

2011-12-03T11:36:00.001+08:00

I mean, seriously. A Reformed blog? Fashion?

Haha.

But well yes it's a Saturday and on Saturdays I prance around the internet. And while I was prancing, I found these. And the outfits were kinda cute.

For those of you who are more into the theological side of things...

I'm not going to go into a full-fledged discussion on the fashion industry and the implications of the tenth commandment... yet. Just two tasters for you to chew on till the next time I post on the topic (and no I am not going to flog the dead horse* of dressing modestly):

1. What is the place of aesthetic (visual) beauty in the Christian warfare lifestyle? Francis Schaeffer, Art and the Bible:

A work of art has a value in itself. For some this principle may seem too obvious to mention, but for many Christians it is unthinkable. Art is not something we merely analyze or value for its intellectual content. It is something to be enjoyed. The Bible says that the art work in the tabernacle and the temple was for beauty.

2. Is it possible to be “passionate” about fashion without falling into the very real traps of greed and covetousness?

*Okay this is an exaggeration. But we need to widen our parameters.

God's Gift of Sanctification

2011-12-02T18:19:00.001+08:00

Two areas I would like to grow in this December by God's gift of sanctification: firstly, to fear God through loving and living his word; secondly, to give Christlike love that is mature, deep and unqualified, particularly through steadfast prayer. :)

Just a quick note on the blog: I think it will be predominantly quotes and pictures (like this post) from now on. So... this is what you can expect! I hope it is helpful in making theology more visually appealing and bite-sized... and that it introduces you to a wide range of good books to get stuck into. And yes it probably means I will have to start using a larger font soon so you don't have to get out the magnifying glass. But if you find this site helpful, please tell your friends! :) share it on Facebook, Twitter or whatever it is the cool kids are using today.

P.S. I think the two quotes in the picture above are from D.A. Carson, A Call to Spiritual Reformation.

credit: natalie creates, emmily shaw

The Innkeeper

2011-12-01T14:21:00.001+08:00

Loving how the blogs are abuzz with resources for Christmas! Here's a link to an Advent video from The Village Church in case you missed it. Also John Piper has written an achingly moving poem about the innkeeper who took in Joseph and Mary on the very first Christmas day. You can read the full poem and listen to the narration here. It beautifully captures both the great privilege and pain involved in a life of obedience to God.

credit: brice portolano, fraley tera

All the Trees of the Forest

2011-11-30T22:12:00.001+08:00

What have I been up to? Meeting up with friends, watching Puss in Boots, buying a mustard dress and visiting the old sixth-form college. Which isn't very old anymore. The new head seems to have a penchant for landscaping and the whole campus really does resemble a tourist resort of sorts with waterfalls, plants everywhere and well, more plants everywhere. Vines draping down the entrance to the cafeteria. Seriously. The ‘gateway to the Ivy League’ trying to grow some ivy of its own, perhaps?

credit: joe pepper