Things New and Old

Ancient truths revealed in the Scriptures are often forgotten, disbelieved or distorted, and therefore lost in the passage of time. Such ancient truths when rediscovered and relearned are 'new' additions to the treasury of ancient truths.

Christ showed many new things to the disciples, things prophesied by the prophets of old but hijacked and perverted by the elders and their traditions, but which Christ reclaimed and returned to His people.

Many things taught by the Apostles of Christ have been perverted or substituted over the centuries. Such fundamental doctrines like salvation by grace and justification have been hijacked and perverted and repudiated by sincere Christians. These doctrines need to be reclaimed and restored to God's people.

There are things both new and old here. "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things"
2Ti 2:7.

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Abandoned...


Such a lovely home of once childhood but abandoned!


Abandoned...

Few years ago I got to know an elderly couple, and we became close friends. They came from very humble background, and through providence did very well in the estimation of others - they were able to send all their three children to North America for their education. That's no mean accomplishment for them, having come from a humble background. It is most certainly their sincere desire to give their children a better future. As usual the children settled there... and the rest is sad story. The elderly parents were more or less abandoned. He shared with me the pain of being abandoned and neglected by those whom they loved so much! The man passed away recently.

Just a few weeks ago I ministered to another elderly couple. They raised four children - all highly qualified. The man was a doctor before he entered the gospel ministry after his retirement from civil service. He ministered for more than a few years among the Anglicans . He is 80+ now... but bed-ridden and demented. God blessed him with a very strong wife. She shared with me the sad story of being neglected and abandoned by their children... who are busy "doing God's work overseas - what God's work?" (with irony in her voice). She said, "if they would only visit us just once a year, I would have held my peace!"

These observations disturb me!!!

The above account is probably just the tip of a very black iceberg.
 
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  • Dan
  • Really heartbreaking, Bro. Sing.

  •  Sad to hear such things... We may give our children the best education, but we fail to give them the value of God....

  • Training of children starts early. Children somehow see how their own parents treat their forebears, generally of course though there are some exceptions. One plants and raises a mango tree would hardly get a coconut as fruit. You see what I mean. Today's parents are too reluctant to exercise strict discipline on their children. They rather don't bother their children and soon their children forget their parents need their assistance when these old parents need physical and emotional attention. Many decades ago, my eldest brother in law told me a story. The story goes this way: the family has three generations living under one roof. The grandpa, dad and son. Soon grandpa died, pa decided to handle the dead grandpa's body by putting the old dead man's body in a gunny sack. Slinging the gunny sack, pa decided that son should follow along. On reaching a river, pa stooped and about to throw the gunny sack into the flowing water. Son shouted at pa..stop! Keep the gunny sack; just throw grandpa into the water. Pa asked why? Son replied: the gunny sack would be useful when the time comes for me to likewise dispose your dead body. The moral of the story: one reaps what he sows (though through God's mercy there are exceptions). I would endeavor we teach our children Xiao Soon (respect and obedience) before it is too late. We should labor to pray to God for guidance and mercy throughout our lives on earth. Surely, God our Father in Heaven shall protect and teach all of us like His Son, The Lord Jesus Christ, the Perfecter of our faith. Our Eldest Brother who submit to the will of His Father for our sake. He took that bitter cup; death on the Cross and the most difficult of all, God the Father turned His face away from Him when the good Lord borne all a His children's sins once and for all.

  • Someone once said:
    Many parents work so hard to give their children a good living.
    Alas, they forget to teach their children HOW to live!"

    And that's true, from what we see all around us!
    I type 'filial piety' and Google Translate gives me:
    孝顺 - Xiàoshùn.

  • There are things that are beyond our control but it is the things that are in our control we must not neglect. We busy our minds with all sorts of things but learning how to love like Christ.

  • Parents care for their children when the children are helpless and needy; ought not the children return the favor?

  • "... without natural affection..." men have degenerated into brute beast when children has no more natural affection for their parents... Paul has warned of that great evil.

    Ro 1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

    2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

  • Without filial have being make it numerically Mr Sing sad to heard abt that in Penang Island country and Malaysia send their kids to North America (Canada,USA and Mexico) usually virtually to each others.

    Kok
    Dreams of parents... continue to remain dreams.. I would rather live and aged gracefully independence of their care as life is not easy for these kids as they grow up in this harsh world. Why burden them further? It is their right to live in this world the way they wanted and not set by old parents' rules. We are suppose to be capable till the day we die and not suppose to be pampered just because one is growing old and grey. Growing old does not made one invalid but self pity of being old does.

  • There is no greater thing in life than to demonstrate love one to another, making excuses for neglect of those that need our care especially our very own parents is an abomination, and evidence of a hard heart.

  • Dreams of parents? Old parents' rule? Pampered? Burden to honor one's parents? 
    We have totally different worldview!

    Eph 6:2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

  • Hey Edward Wong, I cracked my little head trying to understand what you are trying to say! Sorry, can you say it again? Thanks.

    Kok
    That's obvious Sing F Lau

  • When a son/daughter forgot their parents he/she is more close to the devil. That's what I guess.