Love like you've never loved before.

"You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.. So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment?" - Romans 2:1, 3 (New International Version)

God alone has the right to judge. I am a mere mortal and I am no God, so definitely judging others is not my right. I realized in judging others, I bring judgment to myself. I have sinned against God for I have trespassed His judgment. I am not perfect; therefore I am not in authority to judge. God judges all of us equally. He judges him, He judges her and He judges me. So if I judge another person, then I have just doubled God's judgment on me.

Yet, the Lord is full of love. Yes, He punishes us for the sins we have committed to discipline us because we are His children (Hebrews 12:5). His love is so great that Jesus was sent to us to save us from the consequences of our sins. He did not even spare His own Son to die a shameful death for people like us. Because of the death of Jesus Christ, we have been justified. And though we were not worthy, God still gave Jesus to us. An undeserved love. That is grace, my friend (Ephesians 2:8). We are confident that our salvation in Jesus is true. He died but did not stay dead for He resurrected from the grave and is now alive with our Father in heaven.

We live in a fallen world so expect temptation in every way. This is Satan's desperate attempt to gather as many people to rebel against God. He knows he is already defeated when Jesus took upon Himself the punishment of mankind... Death. Satan wants people to be one with him in turning their backs against God. But I have good news. Jesus offers salvation to everyone who is willing to receive it. This salvation, the love of God, is found in Jesus Christ alone. Once we have Jesus, no one, not even Satan can snatch us from God's hand and separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39, John 11:28). Isn't that a wonderful assurance?

It is inevitable that we sin as I've mentioned the obvious reason above. We are trapped in sin. But if we receive Jesus, we will be freed (John 8:36). Sin would no longer bind us for Jesus has freed us from it. As Paul said, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" Once we've accepted Christ, we will be molded into His likeness. Nobody is too bad for Him. Jesus can change lives.

So having said that, we all know that we are all on the same level. Now, do we really have the right to judge others? No.

Instead...

For the believers, what we can do is encourage and pray for one another as we grow in our relationship with God. Let God's love overflow from us to others. If you know people who don't know the Lord Jesus yet, then share His good news. You are not to keep it for yourself. I pray that the Lord would grant all of us the zeal and boldness to open our mouths to speak of who Jesus Christ is. Besides, this is what God called us for.

For those who don't know Jesus and haven't accepted Him yet, seek the LORD your God and you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul (Deuteronomy 4:29). Oh how excited I am for you to know the Lord Jesus Christ. Prepare your hearts and accept Him with all willingness and humility and you will surely find a life that is so abundantly blessed that you can't stop praising the Lord.

We are all brothers and sisters in Christ, so let us not condemn each other. How would the people know that we are Jesus' disciples if we do not love one another? Jesus Himself said, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35)

It's gonna be a tough work but with God's grace, we will learn to love more and more.

King Kong

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Action & Adventure

King Kong is by far the saddest story I've ever witnessed. Yet it's a great movie nonetheless. Man's ignorance and greed, animal cruelty, a love not given a chance, desperation, dying for love. Name it, King Kong has it. This movie is a smorgasbord of emotions that makes it a pathetically entertaining film. It's actually a horror movie injected with love story all over the place. A nice mix if you ask me. Though the Kong was beastly and hideous, many fell in love with him. I know I did. The love story wasn't only between the mighty Kong and Anne (Naomi Watts). Watch the movie and you'll know what I mean. (I'm guessing you've already watched it, because I was among those last batch of people who saw the film)

Wonderfully directed by Mr. Peter Jackson. King Kong meets Jurassic Park and Chicago. Primitively brilliant! The cinematography, screenplay, casting, costumes and make-up, digital effects, and all that jazz was really awesome. I specifically love the city scene where King Kong rummages through the pandemic New Yorkers to look for his beautiful Anne and finally finds her. Such an "aaaww" moment. Perfectly depicts a man in desperate search for his one true love. It's sickeningly sweet.

Though I was never fond of ape films, King Kong sure won a spot in my "list-of-really-good-films-this-year". I was a skeptic at first because this 2005 remake may not meet my expectations of 'King Kong'. But after seeing what I've seen, I am now a believer.

King Kong is definitely an epitome of innocent love, and Peter Jackson was able to capture it beautifully. Watch it and fall in love.

The B1G retreat

It's one of the BIGgest blessings to me this year.

It is a world issue too, you know.

On the account of Genesis, God said to Adam and Eve:

"Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth." - Genesis 1:28 (English Standard Version)

Other versions read 'rule over...' What does it actually mean? To have dominion or to rule over the fishes, the birds, and every living thing that moves on the earth?

If you look up the world 'rule'  in the Webster, you read there that it is an exercise of authority or control. 'Dominion' was also defined there as supreme authority (in this context). In layman's term, we are to be stewards of God's creation, animals in particular.

I want you to click on these links below and tell me if this is what God meant when he commanded us to rule over or have dominion over them?

THIS

IS

SHOCKING

Okay, I am not asking you to sign up for the PETA campaign or anything like that, but I want you to open your eyes to reality that it IS happening. I know that there are more important issues like poverty, human rights, world peace and everything in between, but isn't this equally important as well, given the command God gave us? (yeah it is us, not Adam and Eve alone)

Personally, I want my children to see what a chinchilla is or how sleek and beautiful seals are. But I am afraid that soon, these animals along with all the others will slowly die without us even noticing it. Unless we don't see asong kalye anymore. Yet as stewards we should know what is happening to these animals that God told us to rule over. You may not be an animal lover but the Creator gave you the responsibility to take care of His creations. What will you tell God when you face Him and He starts asking where have all the bluewhales gone?

So, think about it and do your part. It's not only my world but yours too.