Monday, March 22, 2010

Remembering Dad

It has been exactly four years since my dad passed away. I remember he was looking forward so much to see his "newest" grand-kid then. But as God would have it, my dad didn't get the "chance" to see Bethany.

Four years is quite a while in the passage of time. Long enough for many things to happen... expected & unexpected things. Like, Titanic was dethroned by Avatar...or the election of Obama...or my hair turning silver :)

But I bet if my dad were still alive, his BIGGEST surprise & delight would be to see Rachael been added to the family!

Rachael, born on March 11th, would be his 8th grandchild. She is such a beautiful girl! Absolutely gorgeous! Praise the LORD!

Having 8 grand-kids might sound like a "nightmare" to some, but I know for my dad...he wished for more. So I know for sure he would absolutely be blown away with the arrival of Rachael.

I used to listen in disgust and horror the philosophy of having a largish family - all under one roof - from my grandmother and my dad. It was the aspiration of all traditional Chinese men. It just sounded so tribal & primitive ;)

But recently I think I am beginning to see the "wisdom" in having such a "community"... especially when I see THIS pix:


My beloved Ah Lung kuku has 16 grand-kids!!!!

Well, it seems like our hope of EVER surpassing that Mt. Everest figure lies with...


(urrr...no, that baby is not Rachael...that was Bethany)

Yes, my brother, you can DO it!!! ;)

Praise the LORD for my dad & the largish circle of relatives that I have!

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Doctrine of Predestination



As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?" But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?" Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory-- even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?
(Rom 9:13-24)


Monday, March 08, 2010