Posts Tagged ‘article’
2012 in review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 5,000 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 8 years to get that many views.
Abort! anyone?
It was our 6th meeting of Christian Beliefs classes. Basically they were just session where we watched Wayne Grudem and then discusssed topics with people who came. Some of what said were not new science. The discussion was what made the sessions alive.
When we came to “What is man?” topic. We had an interesting discussion about abortion. A friend raised her hand and asked “Is it okay to have abortion? How will this applied to a woman who got pregnant because she was raped? Because if we keep the baby alive, that baby will be a constant reminder of that incident (when the mother raped). The mother might hate the baby. And instead of helping the baby to have a life, that baby will live in a hatred broken situation.”
Our moderator, one of our elder at church, suggested to give up the baby to good christian families who are willing to raise the baby in loving and christian ways. He then referred to Bible passage to the story about a blind man who had been blinded since he was born. When Jesus’ disciples asked whose sin is this, that made this man blind since he was born, Jesus answered that he was blinded that God’s power will shown unto him. And regarding to the out-of-wed-lock babies, he said that, even through these situations, God can shwo His power.
Then everybody’s happy… or not?
Just. Don’t. Let. Go.
Some people said that writing is talking without being interrupted.
But writing blog, or blogging, for me is a way to survive.
I have been writing for… I don’t know how long. I remember writing my own novel adapting from Enyd Blyton when I was in primary 6. I came from a middle class family and was the last in the family. My parents did not spoil me. So, I needed to save some of my allowances to buy a note book in which I wrote my first novel. The story took place in Australia because one of my friend’s brother got scholarship to study in Australia. I thought at that time, what a heaven, to be able to go abroad like that. And I still think like that until now. sigh. So, I read magazines and found information about OZ. I remember using certain vocabularies to explain how my character dress up. Pullover, velvet, satin, ah… that was a great feeling.
……unfortunately,
When God Seems Distant
The LORD has hidden himself from his people,
but I trust him and place my hope in him.
Isaiah 8:17 (TEV) –
God is real,no matter how you feel.
It is easy to worship God when things are going great in your life-when he has provided food, friends, family, health, and happy situations. But circumstances are not always pleasant. How do you worship God then? What do you do when God seems a million miles away?
My “not-so-funny” Valentine
Happy Valentine’s Day
It is such a misty and rainy Valentine Day this year, completely opposite with the colors of red and pink and the essence of warm and love. This Valentine, even weather feels hesitate to celebrate it.
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t hate Valentine even if it reminds me of a dinner time with a man who brought me a dark chocolate. I don’t hate Valentine even though I never celebrate it with whom I really love. I don’t hate Valentine… Why would one hate a day where people can cherish the greatest power of all. Love.
Yes, Love. Love to the Lord, Lord God. Valentine’s Day was a shorten of Saint Valentine’s Day. It is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day itself is named after one or more early Christian martyrs, Saint Valentine. A martyr. One who sacrifices their life to the Lord God. This day was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD as Saint Valentine’s Day. It was deleted from the Roman calendar of saints in 1969 by Pope Paul VI, but its religious observance is still permitted. [find out more here]
“…but its religious observance is still permitted.” religious observance… hmmm…
Have you ever celebrate Valentine’s Day with religious observance? nu-uh. Not me. But Read the rest of this entry »
SHREK Forever After
hey, you all might want to check this one out. I kinda try to make a review… and Shrek is my first project. here if you have time 🙂 really appreciate it!
Film yang cukup dinanti-nantikan para movie mania mungkin adalaha film SHREK Forever and After. Bagaimana tidak, konon kabarnya, ini sekuel terakhir dari film yang bisa membuat penonton tertawa sepanjang film. Apalagi bila kawan semua sudah mengikuti ketiga sekuel sebelumnya, sepertinya ini adalah film yang must-watch!
Sejujurnya saya bukan tipe penyuka Ogre. Mahluk hijau ini punya konotasi kurang baik pada kisah-kisah fairy tales yang saya pernah baca atau tonton. Ogre didefinisikan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogre) sebagai berparas manusia yang besar, kejam dan buruk rupa.
Film ini diawali oleh Shrek (Ogre) yang terjebak dalam kehidupannya yang membosankan. Ketika semua orang melihat Shrek memiliki semua yang orang impikan, Shrek merasa tidak puas dengan hidupnya. Ia merasa kehebatannya sebagai Ogre redup karena sekarang ia hidup mengurusi ketiga anaknya dan melakukan rutinitas hidup berrumah tangga. Ia mendambakan menjadi Ogre tanpa ada ikatan (dengan istri dan anak) dan bebas dari tanggung jawab yang harus ia pikul sekarang. Ia mendambakan sehari menjadi Ogre yang seperti dulu, yang hebat, ditakuti orang dan bebas. Dalam ketidak puasannya terhadap hidupnya, tanpa berpikir panjang, ia menandatangani perjanjian dengan Rumpelstiltskin, seorang yang sifatnya jahat dan licik, yang selalu berusaha menjebak orang dalam perjanjian-perjanjian mistis.
[Ketika tiba di bagian ini, saya sempat teringat pada kisah Esau yang menjual hak kesulungannya demi semangkuk kacang merah. Tanpa berpikir panjang, hal-hal yang merupakan penting dan berharga dalam hidup rela ia tinggalkan demi hal-hal yang merupakan kesenangan semu.]
Benar saja, pada awalnya Shrek sangat menikmati hasil dari perjanjian dengan Rumpelstiltskin, seperti impian jadi kenyataan, tapi kemudian, ia menyadari bahwa ada yang hilang dalam hidupnya, ada yang berubah. Rumpelstiltskin membuat kehidupan Shrek berubah, karena perjanjian itu, Shrek tidak pernah mengenal Puttri Fiona, mereka tidak pernah bertemu, jatuh cinta, menikah, dan memiliki ketiga anak yang lucu. Ketika menyadari ini, Shrek pun menyesal dan menginginkan kehidupan lamanya. Ah…cerita klasik. Berapa sering kita tidak pernah menyadari bahwa kita beruntung, sampai keberuntungan itu hilang. We never know how precious they are, until they are all gone.
Beruntung kisah Shrek, tidak selesai sampai disini. Kisahnya masih berlanjut, ia berjuang untuk mendapatkan kembali kebahagiaanya, bersama dengan para sahabat, ia berjuang untuk hal-hal yang paling berharga dalam hidupnya ini. Ah, sahabat, betapa berharganya mereka. Bahkan ketika hidup terasa menggilas, uluran tangan sahabat merupakan sebuah penyegaran yang luar biasa. Film ini berakhir bahagia, Shrek kembali hidup berbahagia dengan Putri Fionda dan ketiga anak-anaknya. Perjanjian dibatalkan dan semua kembali seperti sedia kala. Sesuatu hal yang hanya terjadi di film.
Kawan, didalam hidup seringkali kita merasa seperti Shrek. Tidak pernah merasa puas dengan apa yang kita miliki. Iri terhadap kehidupan orang lain. Tapi belajar dari film ini, mari kita mencoba mensyukuri yang Tuhan berikan kepada kita. Tuhan tahu yang terbaik untuk kita, kita perlu untuk terus percaya bahwa apa yang kita miliki sekarang adalah yang terbaik yang Tuhan berikan. Juga, syukuri dan peliharalah para sahabat, karena merekalah yang sering kali tanpa kita sadari selalu ada ketika orang lain tidak ada. Perwujudan kasih Allah yg nyata terpancar dari kasih para sahabat yang Dia berikan untuk kita miliki. Dan terakhir, pastikan semua tindakan dilandasi dalam doa dan penuh keyakinan pada pemeliharaan Tuhan. Hidup kita bukanlah film, yang didalamnya waktu bisa diputar kembali, perjanjian dan perbuatan bisa dibatalkan. Tidak, hidup kita bukanlah film. Setiap tindakan memiliki konsekuensi. Kita harus terus belajar berhikmat dan bijak dalam mengambil keputusan. Terdengar sulit? Enggak kog, Amsal 3:5-6 “Percayalah kepada TUHAN dengan segenap hatimu, dan janganlah bersandar kepada pengertianmu sendiri. Akuilah Dia dalam segala lakumu, maka Ia akan meluruskan jalanmu.” Selamat mensyukuri hidup! Right now, Forever and After…
Tuhan memberkati.
I am Christian
When I say that “I am a Christian”, I am not shouting that I am clean living.
I’m whispering “I was lost, but now I’m found and forgiven.”
When I say “I am a Christian” I don’t speak of this with pride.
I’m confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.
When I say “I am a Christian” I’m not trying to be strong.
I’m professing that I’m weak and need His strength to carry on.
When I say “I am a Christian” I’m not bragging of success.
I’m admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.
When I say “I am a Christian” I’m not claiming to be perfect.
My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it.
When I say “I am a Christian” I still fell the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartache, so I call upon His name.
When I say “I am a Christian” I’m not holier that thou.
I’m just a simple sinner who received God’s good grace, somehow!
JICF, May 30th, 2010
Let’s DANCE!
When I meditated on the word guidance,
I kept seeing “dance” at the end of the word.
I remember reading that doing God’s will is a lot like dancing.
When two people try to lead, nothing feels right; the movement doesn’t flow with the music.
When one person realizes that, and let’s the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music.
It’s as if two become one body, moving beautifully.
The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.
My eyes drew back to the word guidance.
When I saw “G”: I thought of God, followed by “u” and “I”.
God, you, and I dance.
As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life.
Once again, I became willing to let God lead.
JICF, May 9, 2010.
Let’s dance!
Things I’ve Learned This Week
# I learned to see something more detailed. yeah, it looks like I’m not detail enough..hmm..
# I learned to apply God’s words in my daily lives. Sometimes I really did it, but often I failed. But at least, I tried.
# I learned to be a supportive friend. It really needs some amount of self sacrifice and lots of smiles.
# I learned to be thankful for a family that I have. They are really great. I never notice this until my cousin’s wedding.
# I learned that my sister is a very dominant person. And so does my eldest brother. I wonder what home was like when they were still living under the same roof. Poor mama ;p
# I noticed that Robert Downey Jr. is a true super cool handsome bad boy. And I am in love with him. hehe..
# I learned to have empathy with my best friend, Ria. Yup, falling in love sometime sucks. Especially when he does not love me/us back.
# I knew now, how to send pictures with my Black Berry, even though I still don’t know how to rotate the pictures permanently.
# I learned to be a comforter. I am not really sure I was succeed though.
# I learned that life is celebrated when you die. I learned from Kak Ihut’s death. She was so loved that everybody is willing to come after a very tiring middle week day, just to take a last look of our dear friend who had touched our heart so deeply.
# I learned to tell the truth more rather than avoiding it. hehe…to some people, I found it’s so hard to tell the truth.
# I also learned to hide some unnecessary truth.
# I learned by heart, that some things just can’t be changed. And you cannot do anything about that.
# I should remember that Liang Teh is not available in every dining place. ya iyalahh…
…and so much more, I’ll try to add more when I can recall ;p
We can manage.
crushed
Let me show you. It is written ” We are pressed on every side by troubles but we are not crushed.” Until couple minutes ago, I always focus on “We are not crushed”. I kept on telling my self that I am not gonna be crushed. I’ll be okay. But hey, read again, we are not crushed when we are pressed on every side by troubles. So, we are pressed on every side by troubles! It was saying that pressed on every side by troubles is not happening and centering on you, solely you. Everybody has this experience. The perfect Indonesian famous quote on thi is “Jangan lebay, Len!” LOL.
So, if we continue to look at the verses this way, we will have:
1. We are pressed on every side by troubles.
2. We are perplexed.
3. We are hunted down.
4. We get knocked down.
Realizing this condition is not bringing a brighter smile on my face. Geez, hunted down and knocked down. What can be worst than that? We are really got knocked down. Down. This thought suddenly makes my everyday misery gone. Seriously, if you are not down yet, be ready, coz u are gonna knocked down! But if you’re down now…there’s the second part of the verses that’s a bit relieving. It is written:
1. We are not crushed.
2. We are not driven to despair.
3. We are never abandoned by God.
4. We are not destroyed.
A 3 letter word: WOW!
Notice number 3, we are NEVER ABANDONED by GOD. I think, that should do it. That should be the line. What ever happened or will happen or is happening…no matter how painful, crushing, tearing down they are…however huge, gigantic and uncomprehendable they are…we are with God, we can manage. We are never abandoned by God.
Chin up!
Vallaura
Vallaura's Blog 