Sunday, September 23, 2007

Chambers v Almighty

The 21st century has seen people of the world fighting for their rights. Vigilant movements to fight for basic human rights, rights of women, rights of children, and rights of the minority have risen everywhere on the face of the earth. This reflects a widespread awareness of the law and of the rights that the law has given to us. While it is good and right to know the law and vouchsafe your rights as was constituted, let's not carry it to the extreme.

Living in the 21st century, we are so used to hearing people say, "I will sue you", that in fact, it has become one of the most popular phrases of the century. Even children say it. Of course, Hollywood has never ceased to promote what the law can do for you. As a law student, of course, I am not spared from this widespread epidemic. When doing the problem questions, I have to think of ways and laws under which I can sue people. Interesting, but not as interesting as you think it is. As I have 5 hours of law every week, inevitably, I also begin to view my daily life from a legal perspective. I begin to take notice of rights and contracts in our daily lives that were breached. Let me assure you, this annoys my family a lot, and I mean A LOT!

On Wednesday, though, this caught my eye,

"The defendant in a Nebraska state senator's lawsuit is accused of causing untold death and horror and threatening to cause more still. He can be sued in the state's Douglas County, the legislator claims, because He is everywhere."
- "Senator Sues God in Protest", The Star

Yes, he is trying to sue God. And the charge? "God has inspired fear and caused widespread death, destruction and terrorisation of millions upon millions of the Earth's inhabitants...... and has caused fearsome floods... horrendous hurricanes, terrifying tornadoes". He is seeking an injunction (a court order to prevent someone from doing something) against God. What can I say but 'bizarre' and 'absurd'.

As people of the 21st century, we are so engrossed with the power of the law, that we seem to have placed our security and our trust wholly on the law and our rights. The law is such an essential weapon for our lives, so much so that it does not merely function as a shield to safeguard our well being, but also as a weapon of attack for us to launch attacks at others, all in the name of 'human rights'. It has even elevated us to an assumed a disposition way beyond where the Creator of the heavens and the earth has placed us, so much so that we now attempt to rebuke our Creator.

I am indeed surprised that such an act of naivety was carried out by a lawmaker, one who was elected to govern the people most probably because of his capability. As I read of the news, I can't help but imagine my pet gold fish saying to me, "Hey! Keep your hands out of my goldfish bowl, or I'll sue you!" Sounds bizarre, isn't it? And we laugh at it. But this is exactly what our dear senator is doing. Doing such a thing, according to him, is to "make the point that anybody can file a lawsuit against anybody" under the law, but I think, it only shows us how interesting it can be when a senator turns himself into a clown. Indeed, he has made a laughing stock out of himself. What he did, to me, is like a child's play.

I wonder what happens if he does succeed in his action... What if the judge really grants him the injunction he is seeking? But, so what? Does anyone think that a mere injunction can regulate God's actions?

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Anyway

"God is great
But sometimes life ain't good
When I pray
It doesn't always turn out like I pray it should
But I do it anyway"

This is the chorus of a new song by Martina McBride. I like it so much. Things happen and we think that by praying, we always get what we want. But as this song says, things just don't turn out the way we want it to be sometimes. However, in all things, the best that you can do is to trust Him who has the best plan for your life. What a comfort!

"You can pour your soul out singing
A song you believe in
And tomorrow they'll forget you ever sing
Sing it anyway"

This last verse is also an encouragement for me. How many times have we done things that do not seem to be noticed and cherished by others? Countless! We stand up for something we believe in, and we are confronted with objections. Just as I encountered recently. Our confidence and our assurance may be swayed. However, what you really must do is to ascertain what you believe in is true, and HOLD on to your principle! It doesn't matter if no one else notices what you do, or disapproves of it, what matters is that it is pleasing to our Heavenly Father.

Now you see why Martina McBride never ceases to be one of my favourites!

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Who Am I?

Who am I?

I am a student.
I am pastor's daughter.
I am Mum's princess.
I am my brothers' sister.
I am a friend's friend.
I am a youth leader.
I am the CF president.
I am a worship leader.
I am a back-up singer.
I am a lover of God.
I am His handservant.
I am salt and light.
I am a 19-year-old who behaves like 25.
I am a high achiever.
I am a leader.
I am a role model.
I am a Christian.
I am the phlegmatic.
I am the dictator.
I am the perfectionist.
I am the lawyer.
I am the book worm.
I am the interpreter.

Who am I, exactly? I don't really know. Sometimes, I just want to be Dorcas, the regular 19-year-old. full stop.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

To LOVE someone...

"I love him better than myself... I know it by this:
I pray every night that I may live after him;
because I would rather be miserable than that he should be:
that proves I love him better than myself."

- by Emily Brontë's Catherine Earnshaw in Wuthering Heights

Sunday, September 9, 2007

10 things

Lately with the funeral and all, I can't help being overcome by the notion of death. I can't help feeling how fragile our lives are and how uncertain tomorrow is. I may be here today, but I can't vouchsafe that I'll still be here tomorrow. In fact, I am not even sure I will be here the next second. Same goes to my loved ones; I do not know how long they will be with me, and this scares me. Of course, songs like "If Tomorrow Never Comes" and "Live Like You Were Dying" enhance this depressing notion. So, I decided to come up with this list:

10 things I wanna do if I have only 1 month to live:
  1. Fall in love
  2. Experience campus life in US
  3. Go bungee-jumping, ab-sailing and white water rafting
  4. Join MV Doulos
  5. Attend Passion Conference
  6. Take Dad to Disneyland in Florida
  7. Take Mum to Switzerland
  8. Make a will so that my books and my bears do not fall into the wrong hands
  9. Catch up with old friends
  10. Confess to my parents all the things that I've done behind their backs

These, of course, are in random order. I used to have a similar list that I made sometime back when I was in school. Comparing the previous one to this one, there are significant differences. Things that matter most to me last time has now become rather insignificant, and other things have taken their places. My priorities have changed.

Today's sermon in church was about setting priorities. It is really ironical that it is usually in circumstances as such- when we are contemplating the subject of death- that we actually begin to set our priorities right. Only in times like these when we truly see what matters most in this fragile life.

Hey, here's a challenge to make this list for yourself. List down ten things and you see what you cherish most in life. I can't wait to this on your blog!