Love is a choice not a feeling~

Was curious about the meaning of marital ring in a wedding ceremony.
Did a quick Google keyword search and bump into this phrase,

“love” is a choice and not only a feeling.

With this, it explains everything about the common 三角恋爱 plot conflict in HK TV series,
到底你心里面还有没有我？
If one is to follow the common understanding of “love”
one will have a hard time to answer that question in a conflict situation.

But if we understand that “LOVE” is a choice,
It’s really up to one to make the decision,
and stick to it.

Therefore marriage is really a big decision as
the deadline of a marital vow is eternal.

As for the path leading to the eternal vow,
courtship should also be thoroughly thought through
before progressing further.

All these are based on the FAITH that GOD had all the plans ready for us
since the beginning of time,
and that includes our life-partner.

Of course this reminds me of God’s “LOVE”,
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son,
that whoever believes in HIM shall not perish but have eternal life.

God chose to LOVE us, unconditionally
and eternally.
Thus, His heartbeat is “none shall perish”,
everyone is given a chance to accept His LOVE,
as God Himself have long made the decision to LOVE us.

Oh well… some of you might be wondering,
“It’s been a long time since joshuatj last posted on his blog,
and now he’s blogging about love…. ^^”

Well… the truth is I’m currently watching “岁月风云” (episode 16 now)
and like other chinese pop TV series plots,
it’s always about LOVE and relationships.

After long hours of immersing in the plot,
it gives me a feeling of despair that people nowadays
are having a hard time managing relationships.

After some mental acrobatics,
I think I’ve located the problem.
The core of the problem,
is just like what I’ve said earlier,
a misunderstanding of LOVE.

I’m not trying to be a LOVE expert here,
but what I’ve written are just some of my thoughts (products of my mental acrobatics).

If you have something to say about what I’ve said,
please voice it out.

Mental Acrobatics is best done in groups where IDEAS bounce around. ^^

Watched HongKong TV Series 原来爱上贼

Plot = Robin Hood.
Conflict between establishment and anti-establishment maintaining of social order

These are some of my insights.

Robin Hood. Judgement.
Man shall not judge others.
It might not be what it seems to be.
it might well is just another mask, meaning something else.

speck and log in eyes.
We should live our life according to God’s will.
Will acts of punishment or playing a fool of the bad guys change their ways?
no, it will just agitate them and provoke them to do more bad things.
Yes, it might seem as if the punishment has been made.
But, who are you that you are given the authority to judge others?
Radical moves will disrupt the establish social order.
Where do you draw the line?

Unavoidable, tempting yourself into the ways of the evil ones.

"the end justify the means?"

NO~!

But the bad guys are roaming around,
God is comppasionate.
He wants to give everyone a chance,
to repent and live their lives according to His Will.

What can we dO?
Pray.
Look out for the prompt of the Holy Spirit,
grab the opportunity.

The Word and I

Today’s sermon is on the first 16 verses of Psalm 119.
keyword: TRUST & OBEY

1 Blessed are they whose ways are blameless,
       who walk according to the law of the LORD.

2 Blessed are they who keep his statutes
       and seek him with all their heart.

3 They do nothing wrong;
       they walk in his ways.

4 You have laid down precepts
       that are to be fully obeyed.

5 Oh, that my ways were steadfast
       in obeying your decrees!

6 Then I would not be put to shame
       when I consider all your commands.

7 I will praise you with an upright heart
       as I learn your righteous laws.

8 I will obey your decrees;
       do not utterly forsake me.

b Beth

9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
       By living according to your word.

10 I seek you with all my heart;
       do not let me stray from your commands.

11 I have hidden your word in my heart
       that I might not sin against you.
    我将你的话藏在心里，免得我得罪你

12 Praise be to you, O LORD;
       teach me your decrees.

13 With my lips I recount
       all the laws that come from your mouth.

14 I rejoice in following your statutes
       as one rejoices in great riches.

15 I meditate on your precepts
       and consider your ways.

16 I delight in your decrees;
       I will not neglect your word.

Joshua 1:8
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth;
meditate on it
day and night,
so that you may be careful to do everything written in
it.
Then you will be prosperous and successful.

How do we meditate it day and night?
Memorise it!
Next target~ Psalm 121,
then it’ll be Psalm 119!!

3 point sermon.
1. Blessing is found in obedience to God’s word - Don’t be self-deceived.
2. Blessing is found in complete obedience to His precepts - Don’t be selective.
3. Blessing is found in putting God’s word in our Hear. - Don’t be superficial.

Envy God fearing men doing great things for God?
Trust God = Obey God
Parable of the foundation on rock vs foundation on sand.
Hear and do vs hear without doing
equal–> trust but not obey~!
In short, trust and obey exist in the same vector space.

James 1:22-25 <Be do-er, not hearer!!>

Value of the world vs Value of the WORD!
No matter what’s at stake!!

Dear Lord,
I’ve strayed.
I’ve tasted what it’s like moving far from you, Lord.
Hereby, I want to renew my covenant with you Lord.
I want to live out the truth, not just knowing it in my head.
I want to be DO-er not just hearer.
I will hide your WORD in my heart and
meditate on your word day and night.

I will heed your Will in everything that I do,
no matter what’s at stake~!
Because I believe that you are a FAITHFUL God!
Your plans for me were planned even before I was born.

It’s funny that it takes some effort to be able to say
"God, I am here, send me, use me~!"
Thank you Lord.

In Jesus most precious name I pray,
Amen.