Calvary (Golgotha) was, according to the Gospels, a site immediately outside the walls of Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified.
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Reflections for Good Friday 2020
Strange as it may be, I am writing this “reflection of Good Friday” weeks ahead of schedule. (Andy, you would be so proud of me! :p) Another cancelled event due to the COVID-19 situation has freed up my schedule. I reckon this may be an opportune time to pen some thoughts down.
Much has been said and written of the virus. Amidst the constant flow of information and misinformation, endless questions surface. How does a lay person discern the truth? How should I, as a Christian respond? If I am fearful, am I deemed to have no faith? Though unspoken, am I judging those who stay away from church due to the inconveniences of temperature and attendance taking or are caregivers who can’t afford to fall sick? Do I cancel meetings? Am I genuinely concerned for others or caving into fear? If I insist meetings proceed, am I exposing attendees to unnecessary risks? Who has time to seek the LORD while having to implement immediate stop-gap measures? Do I pause all things to dash to the nearest supermarket to stock up on essentials? In the midst of all man-made precautionary measures, where is God?
Sitting in church the Sunday after Singapore raised the DORSCON code to orange was my first chance to pause. In the frenzy, I had relegated God to the backroom. Now, given time to pause, Philippians 4:6-7 came to mind, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” In the quietness of the Sanctuary, I was overwhelmed by God’s peace and love. Here I was anxious and concerned over being exposed to the coronavirus yet having a laissez-faire attitude to a more insidious virus, the “sinovirus”! This virus has eternal consequences yet, staying clear of it is not high on my agenda! Why am I not reading and obeying God’s Word as diligently as I am washing my hands and staying away from crowded places! Why am I less concern with where my loved ones will end up verses where did they just return from? Talk about a warp sense of priorities!
Is my attitude nonchalant because I know Jesus Christ has paid it all for me? Jesus was sent to the epicentre of sinovirus to make a way out for those who believe. He willingly infected Himself with the virus bearing the consequences on the cross. His is the ultimate sacrificial love as written in John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."
The season of LENT is days away, a good time to reprioritise, to recalibrate in light of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice. May I declare like the psalmist in Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” and obediently walk the straight and narrow path to the road that leads to life.
Blessed Easter!
Calvary’s Love
(Words and Music by Greg Nelson and Phill McHugh)
Calvary's love will sail forever,
Bright and shining, strong and free,
Like an ark of peace and safety
On the sea of human need.
Through the hours of all the ages
Those tired of sailing on their own
Finally rest inside the shadow
Cast by Calvary's love across their souls.
Calvary's love, Calvary's love,
Priceless gift Christ makes us worthy of;
The deepest sin can't rise above Calvary's love.
Calvary's love can heal the spirit
Life has crushed and cast aside,
And redeem till heaven's promise
Fills with joy once empty eyes.
So desire to tell His story
Of Love that loved enough to die
Burns away all other passions,
Fed by Calvary's love becomes a fire.
Calvary's love, Calvary's love,
Priceless gift Christ makes us worthy of;
The deepest sin can't rise above Calvary's love.
Calvary's love has never faltered,
All its wonders still remain.
Souls still take eternal passage;
Sins atoned and heaven gained,
Sins atoned and heaven gained,
Sins atoned and heaven gained.
Many Thanks To
Ms Elaine Sung
For Writing The Article.
This is the second article written by Ms Sung. Click below to read the first:
'Good Friday Took On A New Meaning'
12th April 2020
Thank you for this opportunity.
ReplyDeletePray it will resonate with your viewers.
As I read it again, I am reminded not to take anything for granted!
Who would have thought come Easter we would be shut out of the physical church!
Church is not an institution but a home away from home for me...
but we all need to be responsible and do our part.
Hanging in there.
THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING READERS & FRIENDS WHO SENT GOOD FRIDAY GREETINGS 2020:
ReplyDeleteJIMMY YAP
JERRY FERNANDEZ
ALFRED WONG
TONY NG
WILFRED LIM
CHEW HEE HONG
JIMMY CHNG
MATTHEW TAN
OLIVER BALASINGHAM
PERRY KOH
CLARENCE PEREIRA
JOEY KOH
JAMES KWOK
RICHARD TOH
TOM & GERRY
ZAINAL ABIDIN
JIMMY APPUDURAI
EDDIE WEE
GEORGE CHEW
ANGELINE KHOO (DR)
PETER HAN
JERRY SARAM
CEDRIC COLLARS
CEDRIC CORK
PHIL CHAN (DR)
TED HA
YANG
MICHAEL CHENG
JOHNNY YEO
JOHNNY YEOW
STEVE HO
WEE GUAN
JIMMY PRESLEE
JO
HARRY CHEOK
ERICH (GERMANY)
DEREK McCULLY
DENNIS TAN
VICTOR WOO
JOHNSON LEE
CLEMENT FERNANDEZ
EDDY ENG
LIM KUAN MIN
AND THE LIST GOES ON...
How the Virus Stole Easter
ReplyDeleteBy Kristi Bothur
With a nod to Dr. Seuss 😊
Twas late in ‘19 when the virus began
Bringing chaos and fear to all people, each land.
People were sick, hospitals full,
Doctors overwhelmed, no one in school.
As winter gave way to the promise of spring,
The virus raged on, touching peasant and king.
People hid in their homes from the enemy unseen.
They YouTubed and Zoomed, social-distanced, and cleaned.
April approached and churches were closed.
“There won’t be an Easter,” the world supposed.
“There won’t be church services, and egg hunts are out.
No reason for new dresses when we can’t go about.”
Holy Week started, as bleak as the rest.
The world was focused on masks and on tests.
“Easter can’t happen this year,” it proclaimed.
“Online and at home, it just won’t be the same.”
Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, the days came and went.
The virus pressed on; it just would not relent.
The world woke Sunday and nothing had changed.
The virus still menaced, the people, estranged.
“Pooh pooh to the saints,” the world was grumbling.
“They’re finding out now that no Easter is coming.
“They’re just waking up! We know just what they’ll do!
Their mouths will hang open a minute or two,
And then all the saints will all cry boo-hoo.
“That noise,” said the world, “will be something to hear.”
So it paused and the world put a hand to its ear.
And it did hear a sound coming through all the skies.
It started down low, then it started to rise.
But the sound wasn’t depressed.
Why, this sound was triumphant!
It couldn’t be so!
But it grew with abundance!
The world stared around, popping its eyes.
Then it shook! What it saw was a shocking surprise!
Every saint in every nation, the tall and the small,
Was celebrating Jesus in spite of it all!
It hadn’t stopped Easter from coming! It came!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!
And the world with its life quite stuck in quarantine
Stood puzzling and puzzling.
“Just how can it be?”
“It came without bonnets, it came without bunnies,
It came without egg hunts, cantatas, or money.”
Then the world thought of something it hadn’t before.
“Maybe Easter,” it thought, “doesn’t come from a store.
Maybe Easter, perhaps, means a little bit more.”
And what happened then?
Well....the story’s not done.
What will YOU do?
Will you share with that one
Or two or more people needing hope in this night?
Will you share the source of your life in this fight?
The churches are empty - but so is the tomb,
And Jesus is victor over death, doom, and gloom.
So this year at Easter, let this be our prayer,
As the virus still rages all around, everywhere.
May the world see hope when it looks at God’s people.
May the world see the church is not a building or steeple.
May the world find Faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection,
May the world find Joy in a time of dejection.
May 2020 be known as the year of survival,
But not only that -
Let it start a revival.
Hi Andy,
ReplyDeleteFurther to the lovely Good Friday reflections from E. Sung I had to send this to you.
Dr Seuss adapted for Easter.
Stay safe and well.
You should post an article asking people to nominate the most appropriate song for STAY AT HOME.
ReplyDeleteMine is this one: I AM A ROCK by SIMON & GARFUNKEL.
GOD BLESS ALL
ReplyDeleteCheers n AMEN ..TO GOD WITH LOVE from your earthly children
ReplyDelete🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
SAME TO YOU
ReplyDeleteSTAY HOME
GOD BLESS YOU
Thank you all for comments and contribution and Ms Elaine Sung for her Good Friday message.
ReplyDeleteMany more greetings coming up.
I hope to post them all, if I manage.
Andy,
ReplyDeleteHard to understand why God didn't protect millions of all ages from Covid and other deaths.
Only a few are lucky that they saw Jesus coming before them.
"I give you a new commandment:
ReplyDeleteLove one another as I have loved you."
JOHN 13:34
Happy Easter
ReplyDeleteStay home and keep safe this Easter.
Enjoy your time with the family.
Thanks to the following
ReplyDeleteFreda Hanum
Ericbronson Wong
Tan Andrew
Koh Sui Pang
Rose Khoo
Lim Kuan Min
Peter Cheong
Tracy Ng
Koh Daisy
Ho Victor
Happy Easter, Andy to you and family.
ReplyDeleteEaster, commemorating the day Jesus rose from the grave to be with His Heavenly Father. The following verse and chorus from a gospel hymn surmise my belief, my faith. They also help ease my fears and apprehension during this Covid-19 pandemic. I have to cling on to His promise that He is with me, in me and for me.
* God sent His son
They call Him Jesus
He came to love, heal and forgive
He lived and died to buy my pardon
An empty grave is there to prove my Saviour lives.
** Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because l know, I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living, just because He lives.
Have you listened to Elvis P's rendition of Amazing Grace?
FEAR HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH DISTRUST IN A GOD
ReplyDeleteNOR BEING PARANOID.
IT IS ABOUT CONSCIOUSNESS.
IT IS LIKE IN THE ART OF WAR. IT IS WHEN THE VICTOR OF A BATTLE
GETS TOO SURE OF HIMSELF..(oh, the gods are with us, ..
and the temple dudes say.. i have read the stars, it is written
we are invincible)..
that was what the trojans thought.
MY SISTER SAID.. IF YOU HAVE FAITH IN GOD YOU DO NOT FEAR THE VIRUS.
BUT I TOLD HER, IF YOU WALK INTO A PIT OF VIPERS..
GOD IS NOT GOING TO PROTECT YOU.
GOD PROTECTS THE FAITHFUL AND PURE OF SPIRIT..
GOD (at least in my own ex-alterboy catholic upbringing...
but today though experience of travel and mixing with peoples
of all land culture religion..even so called apostate or heathens..
i am a patheist..believing
MY GOD ,WHO CREATED THE SUN WIND AIR RAIN TO WARM FREEZE CHILL GIVE BREATH
TO ALL HIS CREATURES WITHOUT PREFERENCIAL THREATMENT ON
ANY ONE CASTE, RACE, RELIGION..ETC.
IS NOT AN ELITIST
NOR IS HE/SHE.. ONE WHO PROTECTS SOMEONE WHO THINKS GOD WILL PROTECT ME
FROM THE VIRUS SO I WILL WALK LIKE I AM INDESTRUCTIBLE..
IF SO, GOD/MOTHER NATURE WOULD HAVE SAVED HER WHALES,ETC..
FROM THE ATROCITIES OF MAN DRIVEN BY GREED..
NO, IF YOU WALK INTO THE PIT OF VIPERS..
I DO NOT THINK GOD HAS AN OBLIGATION TO PROTECT YOU
FOR BEING SILLY OR OVER-CONFIDENT.
WE DO NOT GET PARANOID AND STOCK UP FOR TOMORROW..
FOR EVEN THOUGH WE DO.. HOW LONG IS YOUR PROVISION GOING TO LAST..
NOR DO WE EXPECT GOD TO DO OUR LAUNDRY..
OR VICE VERSA.. (prosletyze..posing as his envoy ..
like the crusaders,etc.. using God as an excuse
to seize and overrule what was not theirs in the first place).
yes, this is time out for us ..
this is a wake up call for us..
MOTHER NATURE OR GOD , IF YOU PREFER , IS NOT HERE TO PUNISH US..
WHY WOULD HE OR SHE???
A MOTHER TIGER WOULD NEVER EAT HER CUBS...
BUT, HER CUBS MIGHT EAT THE OLD MOTHER TIGER..
this is what is happening to us today...
it is the consequences of our leaders actions
from the very first day Man took up arms
to kill his brother and sister.
the virus is no different from the flu.
we have lost our immunity from pollution, toxic air,
unclean water, smog, every poison and irritant
spilled out from the actions of Man...
IF WE SURVIVE THIS..
WITH CLEANER AIR AND WATER NOW..
AS IT IS HAPPENING.. eg venice is seeing fish in their clearer waters..
the atmosphere is surely cleaning..
like QING MING which the ancient chinese just celebrated
along with PALM SUNDAY..
QING... CLEAN
MING... CLEAR
this is to me, a blessing in disguise..
like a peregrine falcon i saw only early this month
tearing the feathers of the still shaking pigeon..
as i filmed it..
it glares into my lens..as if telling me...
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A PIGEON (as in Man)
TRIES TO BE A FALCON (as in God).
MY EYES ARE OPEN WIDE...
AS STEVIE WONDER ONCE SAID..
EVEN I AM NOT THAT BLIND TO SEE
SOMETHING IS DREADFULLY WRONG WITH THIS WORLD ...
are you eyes open already..???
or will you continue to sleepwalk
after covid-19 is over.
HAVE A HAPPY AND HOLY EASTER..
AS THE MUSLIMS SAY...
WHEN I WISH THEM ON THE STREETS..
KEEP SAFE..
"ISCHALLAH".. GOD WILLING !
I think Matt means:
ReplyDeleteINSHA-ALLAH
Thanks to Matt Tan and all the others who wrote in with their views.
As I have explained many times, this blog is a music one but allows seasonal posts with added songs relevant to the topic discussed.
Again, thanks to Ms Elaine Sung for her yearly contribution to whom I am grateful.