The temperature showed 10 degree celcius in the teacher's room. It's cold and cloudy today, but the school did not take out the kerosene heater. The reason is because it is not December yet. According to the rule, the kerosene heater will be used starting December. Hm.... peraturannya emang kayak gitu, musti manut ama aturan. Para guru juga udah mengeluh dingin. During this week, we had parents-teacher consultation week. Students were sent home earlier and parents came to school to talk with the homeroom teacher. So in the classroom with 2 people inside, in this kind of weather, definitely it is very cold. Tapi kerosene heater tidak juga dikeluarkan. Orang tua murid juga udah mengeluh, tapi karena peraturan mengatakan heater digunakan di bulan desember, maka tahan aja deh tuh dingin. Pengambilan keputusan ini berada di bawah otoritas wakil kepala sekolah. Dia bilang belum bisa, yah biar guru2 lain bilang minta heater, tetap aja nggak bisa. Furthermore, sebelum Desember, minyak tanah juga nggak boleh beli. Itu kerosene heater kan butuh minyak tanah buat bahan bakarnya. Wah, kalau nggak boleh beli biar heaternya dikeluarin dari storage juga percuma. Pengeluaran sekolah kan juga dikontrol sama pihak Board of Education dan Pemerintah Daerah (pemda), jadi kalau ketahuan beli minyak tanah sebelum bulan desember, bisa diomelin juga pihak sekolahnya sama pemda. Next week, I'll bring my foot heater, cuman buat angetin kaki doang sih.
I have a Russian friend whose hometown in winter can reach minus 40 degree celcius. I thought that the winter here in Japan would be milder than winter in Russia. So I asked her about it. To my surprise, she said that she always felt cold in winter in Japan because the heating system inside the house here was different from the one in Russia. In Russia, they have central heating and the house wall is thick and made of full concrete, about 30 cm thick. While here in Japan, we do not have central heating, it is only kotatsu or kerosene heater or Aircon Heater, plus the wall is thin here and it is made of light wood and thin white cement-like material with tiny air bubbles inside, jadi berongga dalamnya. It is to adjust with the earthquakes that often happen here. Temboknya kalau ditendang juga bolong. Kalau mau gantung gambar, tinggal ambil thumbtacks, pencet aja ke tembok, udah tembus. Nggak perlu paku. Well, segala material memang ada plus minusnya sih. Di Canada sendiri system pemanas ruangan mereka, central heating, adanya di tembok bagian bawah, makanya udara dalam ruangan jadi hangat. Kalau udah dingin begini, perutku kembung melulu dan kalau kembung jadi kentut melulu. Aku belum menemukan jawaban mengapa negara ini nggak pake central heating di tembok untuk pemanas, mungkin jawabannya sama dengan seringnya earthquakes. Mungkin karena seringnya earthquakes, makanya central heating jadi nggak permanen di tembok. Kalau terjadi gempa, bisa jadi dinding bergoyang bergeser, central heating bisa rusak melulu atau bahkan menimbulkan kebakaran.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
True Love by Fujii Fumiya
振り返るといつも君が笑ってくれた
風のようにそっと
まぶしすぎて目を閉じても浮かんでくるよ
涙に変わってく
君だけを信じて 君だけを傷つくて
僕らはいつも はるか はるか 遠い未来を
夢見てたはずさ
立ち止るとなぜか君はうつむいたまま
雨のようにそっと
変わらないよあの日君と出会った日から
涙に変わっても
君だけをみつめて 君だけしかいなくて
僕らはいつもはるかかるか 遠い未来を
夢 見てた はずさ
夢 見てた はずさ
Fujii Fumiya 藤井フミヤ
Furikaeru to itsumo kimi ga waratte kureta
Kaze no you ni sotto
Mabushi sugite me wo tojitemo ukande kuru yo
Namida ni kawatteku
Kimi dake wo shinjite kimi dake wo kizutsukete
Bokura wa itsumo haruka haruka tooi mirai wo
Yume miteta hazu sa
Tachitomaru to nazeka kimi wa utsumuita mama
Ame no you ni sotto
Kawaranai yo ano hi kimi to deatta hi kara
Namida ni kawattemo
Kimi dake wo mitsumete kimi dake shika inakute
Bokura wa itsumo haruka haruka tooi mirai wo
Yume miteta hazu sa
Yume miteta hazu sa
English translation:
I would turn around
You're always smiling for me
like a gentle breeze
You are so dazzling to me
that even though I close my eyes
Your image keeps coming to my mind
and it turns into tears
It is only you I trust
It is only you I hurt
We always looked to the future
But the dream fails
When I stand and stop and think back,
why you always look down quietly like raindrops
There is no change from the day we met
Even things have become tears
My eyes are only on you
It's got to be you
After all, we were always dreaming of the future
but the dream fails
風のようにそっと
まぶしすぎて目を閉じても浮かんでくるよ
涙に変わってく
君だけを信じて 君だけを傷つくて
僕らはいつも はるか はるか 遠い未来を
夢見てたはずさ
立ち止るとなぜか君はうつむいたまま
雨のようにそっと
変わらないよあの日君と出会った日から
涙に変わっても
君だけをみつめて 君だけしかいなくて
僕らはいつもはるかかるか 遠い未来を
夢 見てた はずさ
夢 見てた はずさ
Fujii Fumiya 藤井フミヤ
Furikaeru to itsumo kimi ga waratte kureta
Kaze no you ni sotto
Mabushi sugite me wo tojitemo ukande kuru yo
Namida ni kawatteku
Kimi dake wo shinjite kimi dake wo kizutsukete
Bokura wa itsumo haruka haruka tooi mirai wo
Yume miteta hazu sa
Tachitomaru to nazeka kimi wa utsumuita mama
Ame no you ni sotto
Kawaranai yo ano hi kimi to deatta hi kara
Namida ni kawattemo
Kimi dake wo mitsumete kimi dake shika inakute
Bokura wa itsumo haruka haruka tooi mirai wo
Yume miteta hazu sa
Yume miteta hazu sa
English translation:
I would turn around
You're always smiling for me
like a gentle breeze
You are so dazzling to me
that even though I close my eyes
Your image keeps coming to my mind
and it turns into tears
It is only you I trust
It is only you I hurt
We always looked to the future
But the dream fails
When I stand and stop and think back,
why you always look down quietly like raindrops
There is no change from the day we met
Even things have become tears
My eyes are only on you
It's got to be you
After all, we were always dreaming of the future
but the dream fails
Tokyo Love Story Lyrics
Yesterday night, when I was doing my curriculum design, a friend greeted me on yahoo messenger. He asked me to translate the song from Tokyo Love story TV drama.
This is the lyrics in Kanji characters and romaji and translation. It is not a perfect translation. If you know better translation, please say so. I will revise it. The original title of the song is "Love story wa totsuzen ni ラブ・ストーリーは突然に" (A love story suddenly begins)
何から伝えればいいのか 分からないまま時は流れて
浮かんでは 消えてゆく ありふれた言葉だけ
君があんまりすてきだから ただすなおに 好きと言えないで
多分もうすぐ 雨も止んで 二人 たそがれ
あの日 あの時 あの場所で 君に会えなかったら
僕らは いつまでも 見知らぬ二人のまま
誰かが甘く誘う言葉に もう心揺れたりしないで
切ないけど そんなふうに 心は縛(ｼﾊﾞ)れない
明日(ｱｼﾀ)になれば君をきっと 今よりもっと好きになる
そのすべてが僕のなかで 時を越えてゆく
君のためにつばさになる 君を守りつづける
やわらかく 君をつつむ あの風になる
あの日 あの時 あの場所で 君に会えなかったら
僕らは いつまでも 見知らぬ二人のまま
今 君の心が動いた 言葉止めて 肩を寄せて
僕は忘れないこの日を 君を誰にも渡さない
君のためにつばさになる 君を守りつづける
やわらかく 君をつつむ あの風になる
あの日 あの時 あの場所で 君に会えなかったら
僕らは いつまでも 見知らぬ二人のまま
誰かが甘く誘う言葉に 心揺れたりしないで
君をつつむ あの風になる
あの日 あの時 あの場所で 君に会えなかったら
僕らは いつまでも 見知らぬ二人のまま
In romaji, it is like this:
Nani kara tsutaereba ii noka
wakaranai mama toki wa nagarete
Ukande wa kiete yuku arifureta kotoba dake
Kimi ga anmari suteki dakara
Tada sunao ni suki to ienai de
Tabun mou sugu ame o yande futari tasogare
Ano hi ano toki ano basho de kimi ni aenakattara
Bokura wa itsu mademo mishiranu futari no mama
Dareka ga amaku sasou kotoba ni mou kokoro yuretari shinai de
Setsunai kedo sonna fuu ni kokoro wa shibarenai
Ashita ni nareba kimi o kitto ima yori motto suki ni naru
Sono subete ga boku no naka de toki o koete yuku
Kimi no tame ni tsubasa ni naru kimi o mamori tsuzukeru
Yawarakaku kimi o tsutsumu ano kaze ni naru
Ano hi ano toki ano basho de kimi ni aenakattara
Bokura wa itsu mademo mishiranu futari no mama
Ima kimi no kokoro ga ugoita kotoba tomete kata o yosete
Boku wa wasurenai kono hi o kimi o dare nimo watasanai
Kimi no tame ni tsubasa ni naru kimi o mamori tsuzukeru
Yawarakaku kimi o tsutsumu ano kaze ni naru
Ano hi ano toki ano basho de kimi ni aenakattara
Bokura wa itsu mademo mishiranu futari no mama
Dareka ga amaku sasou kotoba ni mou kokoro yuretari shinai de
Kimi o tsutsumu ano kaze ni naru
Ano hi ano toki ano basho de kimi ni aenakattara
Bokura wa itsu mademo mishiranu futari no mama
English translation:
I do not know where to begin
I waste my time not knowing what to say
What comes into my mind are only ordinary words
You are so beautiful that I can not utter a word to say that I love you.
The rain is going to stop soon, we are in twilight already.
If I had not met you on that day, at that time, at that place, we would have never seen each other forever.
Someone will try to tempt you, but do not let your heart get tempted
Although it is sad, do not let your heart tied up
I know surely tomorrow, I will like you more than today.
As the time passes by, my whole self will fade away
For your sake, I will be wings to protect you
and I will be gentle wind to surround you
If I had not met you on that day, at that time and at that place, we would have never seen each other forever.
I will keep on protecting you
Now you heart changes, words stops, you lean on me
I will never forget that day
I will not let anyone take you from me
For your sake, I will be wings to protect you forever
I will be gentle wind to surround you
If I had not met you on that day, that time and that place, we would have never seen each other forever.
If there is someone who tries to tempt you, do not yield your heart.
I will be wind to protect you forever
If I had not met you on that day, that time and that place, we would have never seen each other forever.
Indonesian translation:
Aku tidak tau dari mana harus memulainya
Aku menghabiskan waktu tanpa tau apa yg harus kukatakan
Yang muncul di pikiranku hanya kata-kata biasa
Kau begitu menawan hati sehingga tak ada kata-kata yang dapat mengungkapkan bahwa aku sangat mencintaimu. Sebentar lagi hujan akan berhenti dan tanpa disadari, kita berdua sudah berada di senja hari.
Jika aku tidak bertemu denganmu di hari itu, saat itu, di tempat itu, kita berdua tidak akan berkenalan selamanya.
Mungkin ada orang lain yang akan merayumu, tetapi jangan biarkan hatimu tergoda.
Walaupun sedih, jangan biarkan hatimu tertambat.
Aku tau pasti bahwa esok aku lebih mencintaimu daripada hari ini
Saat waktu berlalu,
Untukmu, aku akan menjadi sayap yg senantiasa menjagamu
Untukmu, aku akan menjadi bayu yang melindungimu
Jika aku tidak bertemu denganmu di hari itu, di saat itu, di tempat itu, kita tidak akan berkenalan selamanya.
Saat ini hatimu telah berubah,
kata-kata terhenti, kau bersandar padaku
Tak akan pernah kulupakan hari itu
Tak akan kulepaskan engkau selamanya
Aku akan menjadi bayu pelindungmu
Jika aku tidak bertemu denganmu di hari itu, saat itu, tempat itu, kita tidak akan pernah berkenalan selamanya.
Mungkin ada orang lain yg merayumu, tapi jangan biarkan hatimu tergoda
Aku akan menjadi bayu pelindungmu
Jjika aku tidak bertemu denganmu di hari itu, saat itu, tempat itu, kita tidak akan pernah berkenalan selamanya.
This is the lyrics in Kanji characters and romaji and translation. It is not a perfect translation. If you know better translation, please say so. I will revise it. The original title of the song is "Love story wa totsuzen ni ラブ・ストーリーは突然に" (A love story suddenly begins)
何から伝えればいいのか 分からないまま時は流れて
浮かんでは 消えてゆく ありふれた言葉だけ
君があんまりすてきだから ただすなおに 好きと言えないで
多分もうすぐ 雨も止んで 二人 たそがれ
あの日 あの時 あの場所で 君に会えなかったら
僕らは いつまでも 見知らぬ二人のまま
誰かが甘く誘う言葉に もう心揺れたりしないで
切ないけど そんなふうに 心は縛(ｼﾊﾞ)れない
明日(ｱｼﾀ)になれば君をきっと 今よりもっと好きになる
そのすべてが僕のなかで 時を越えてゆく
君のためにつばさになる 君を守りつづける
やわらかく 君をつつむ あの風になる
あの日 あの時 あの場所で 君に会えなかったら
僕らは いつまでも 見知らぬ二人のまま
今 君の心が動いた 言葉止めて 肩を寄せて
僕は忘れないこの日を 君を誰にも渡さない
君のためにつばさになる 君を守りつづける
やわらかく 君をつつむ あの風になる
あの日 あの時 あの場所で 君に会えなかったら
僕らは いつまでも 見知らぬ二人のまま
誰かが甘く誘う言葉に 心揺れたりしないで
君をつつむ あの風になる
あの日 あの時 あの場所で 君に会えなかったら
僕らは いつまでも 見知らぬ二人のまま
In romaji, it is like this:
Nani kara tsutaereba ii noka
wakaranai mama toki wa nagarete
Ukande wa kiete yuku arifureta kotoba dake
Kimi ga anmari suteki dakara
Tada sunao ni suki to ienai de
Tabun mou sugu ame o yande futari tasogare
Ano hi ano toki ano basho de kimi ni aenakattara
Bokura wa itsu mademo mishiranu futari no mama
Dareka ga amaku sasou kotoba ni mou kokoro yuretari shinai de
Setsunai kedo sonna fuu ni kokoro wa shibarenai
Ashita ni nareba kimi o kitto ima yori motto suki ni naru
Sono subete ga boku no naka de toki o koete yuku
Kimi no tame ni tsubasa ni naru kimi o mamori tsuzukeru
Yawarakaku kimi o tsutsumu ano kaze ni naru
Ano hi ano toki ano basho de kimi ni aenakattara
Bokura wa itsu mademo mishiranu futari no mama
Ima kimi no kokoro ga ugoita kotoba tomete kata o yosete
Boku wa wasurenai kono hi o kimi o dare nimo watasanai
Kimi no tame ni tsubasa ni naru kimi o mamori tsuzukeru
Yawarakaku kimi o tsutsumu ano kaze ni naru
Ano hi ano toki ano basho de kimi ni aenakattara
Bokura wa itsu mademo mishiranu futari no mama
Dareka ga amaku sasou kotoba ni mou kokoro yuretari shinai de
Kimi o tsutsumu ano kaze ni naru
Ano hi ano toki ano basho de kimi ni aenakattara
Bokura wa itsu mademo mishiranu futari no mama
English translation:
I do not know where to begin
I waste my time not knowing what to say
What comes into my mind are only ordinary words
You are so beautiful that I can not utter a word to say that I love you.
The rain is going to stop soon, we are in twilight already.
If I had not met you on that day, at that time, at that place, we would have never seen each other forever.
Someone will try to tempt you, but do not let your heart get tempted
Although it is sad, do not let your heart tied up
I know surely tomorrow, I will like you more than today.
As the time passes by, my whole self will fade away
For your sake, I will be wings to protect you
and I will be gentle wind to surround you
If I had not met you on that day, at that time and at that place, we would have never seen each other forever.
I will keep on protecting you
Now you heart changes, words stops, you lean on me
I will never forget that day
I will not let anyone take you from me
For your sake, I will be wings to protect you forever
I will be gentle wind to surround you
If I had not met you on that day, that time and that place, we would have never seen each other forever.
If there is someone who tries to tempt you, do not yield your heart.
I will be wind to protect you forever
If I had not met you on that day, that time and that place, we would have never seen each other forever.
Indonesian translation:
Aku tidak tau dari mana harus memulainya
Aku menghabiskan waktu tanpa tau apa yg harus kukatakan
Yang muncul di pikiranku hanya kata-kata biasa
Kau begitu menawan hati sehingga tak ada kata-kata yang dapat mengungkapkan bahwa aku sangat mencintaimu. Sebentar lagi hujan akan berhenti dan tanpa disadari, kita berdua sudah berada di senja hari.
Jika aku tidak bertemu denganmu di hari itu, saat itu, di tempat itu, kita berdua tidak akan berkenalan selamanya.
Mungkin ada orang lain yang akan merayumu, tetapi jangan biarkan hatimu tergoda.
Walaupun sedih, jangan biarkan hatimu tertambat.
Aku tau pasti bahwa esok aku lebih mencintaimu daripada hari ini
Saat waktu berlalu,
Untukmu, aku akan menjadi sayap yg senantiasa menjagamu
Untukmu, aku akan menjadi bayu yang melindungimu
Jika aku tidak bertemu denganmu di hari itu, di saat itu, di tempat itu, kita tidak akan berkenalan selamanya.
Saat ini hatimu telah berubah,
kata-kata terhenti, kau bersandar padaku
Tak akan pernah kulupakan hari itu
Tak akan kulepaskan engkau selamanya
Aku akan menjadi bayu pelindungmu
Jika aku tidak bertemu denganmu di hari itu, saat itu, tempat itu, kita tidak akan pernah berkenalan selamanya.
Mungkin ada orang lain yg merayumu, tapi jangan biarkan hatimu tergoda
Aku akan menjadi bayu pelindungmu
Jjika aku tidak bertemu denganmu di hari itu, saat itu, tempat itu, kita tidak akan pernah berkenalan selamanya.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Spirit-led Life
This is the sermon from Our Pastor on Sunday, March 1, 2009
But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. (John 16:7)
Lord Jesus said that, "It is for your good that He is going away, so that he will send the Holy Spirit to us." Gift of Holy Spirit is for our benefit because of that, our life led by the Holy Spirit will be wonderful.
What is so special about Holy Spirit? Holy Spirit is called "The Counselor". In the world, there is no one that does not need counseling. For that reason, we need counseling and comforting from the Holy Spirit in any circumstances. He may comfort us and his comforting is perfect.
It is the work of Holly Spirit to confess our sins. Many times it is easy for us to judge others and see their weaknesses, however, it is difficult for us to see our frailties and sins. If we let Holy spirit lead our lives, we will know our weaknesses shortly and repent soon. It is because we are led by the Holy Spirit in the way of holiness. The Holy Spirit also teaches and lead us into all righteousness. Living in righteousness is a life that is free from fears. There is nothing to hide because we had righteousness in our life. The life led by the Holy Spirit frees us from hypocrisy so other people can see the truth, that is Jesus Christ himself. He is truly real in our life.
In summary, the life led by the Holy spirit is truly beneficial for us. Let us open our heart to be led by the Holy Spirit.
When I was listening to the sermon, I was reminded of the background situation of the.story The verses were taken from the book of John 16. Jesus consoled his disciples who were in grief. He said, "Do not let your heart be troubled". Although at that time, Jesus himself was also in a difficult time. His heart troubled too. At that moment, Holy Spirit revealed to me, Jesus and his disciples knew that the time was near, very close, that they would be separated. The close bound between Jesus and his disciples were about to end. Therefore Jesus said, "It is for your good, that I am going away. ... "
I realized that how Jesus loved his disciples so much that it was terribly hard for him to separate from them, as well. For 3 years and a half, they had been together all the time, but then it was time for them to be separated. Jesus also promised them that they would see each other again. In that time no one could take away their joy. Have you ever had a difficult parting time with your close friend or a member of your family?
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Lunch with Elementary School Students
Everyday I have lunch with students in different classes from 1st grade to 6th grade. The schools assign me to sit in the classroom and have lunch with students. Many things happened. About a month ago, I had lunch with 2nd grade students (2-2) Kita Elementary, I sat with a group of students, there was a boy who was talkative and open. We talked about many things, food we liked, disliked, about our family, parents, siblings, etc. That boy always answered my questions, although I meant them for other students who were sitting in the group. Then out of the blue I asked him, how many TVs he had in his house. He said he had 3. Another boy said 5, but 2 were broken. A girl said 2, one in the first floor and another one in the 2nd floor. I asked where they put those TVs. The boy said there was one in his living room, one in the 2nd floor and another one in the toilet. A girl asked why. I also asked why. He said his father liked baseball so much so eventhough he was in the toilet, he could still watch the game. We all laughed. The homeroom teacher and other students were looking at us when we laughed out loud.
Another experience, two weeks ago when I had lunch with 2nd grade Hoshimiya Elementary. There were only 12 students, so the HRT had the students set a round table sitting arrangement. When we were eating, Misa, a girl whose brother, Takumi, in the 6th grade, told me that he liked a boy in the class. She did not hesitate to tell me and point to the boy, Hiroki, a quiet thin boy. There were two Hiroki in the class, the one is thin and quiet and the other one was healthy plump and active. Then, the girl next to Misa, Saki chan, also told me that she also liked two boys in the classroom, she pointed to Ryusei dan Kaito whose brother was in the 6th grade. I appreciated their boldness. The boys, Ryusei and Kaito, were not shy nor did they feel awkward about it. Ryusei is a handsome boy and I know he will be a heart-breaker. He loves pretty girls and he knows how to capture their attention. He knows how to get my attention. He knows how to be sweet in front of me. I asked Misa what kind of guy she liked. She said she liked a boy who was handsome, kind and rich. Then I asked the same question to Saki, basically she said the same things. Then I asked whether she liked someone who was clever and smart. The answer was quite surprising for me. She replied that it did not matter whether the guy was smart or not. "Atama yokunakutemo ii!" I laughed loudly. The HRT only smiled. She is a kind of person who never shows her true feelings and never be expressive. Saki also said that she did not want to go to college nor university. She said that she was not clever nor smart. Saki wants to be an Idol. She said that an idol did not need a "good head". Still young but she had determined her life and judged that she did not want to have tertiary education. The HRT confirmed that and added that the parents supported her and did not encourage her to have higher education. In my country, we all want to have higher education instead of our poverty, however, here in this wealthy country, a kid does not want to go to school.
Another experience, two weeks ago when I had lunch with 2nd grade Hoshimiya Elementary. There were only 12 students, so the HRT had the students set a round table sitting arrangement. When we were eating, Misa, a girl whose brother, Takumi, in the 6th grade, told me that he liked a boy in the class. She did not hesitate to tell me and point to the boy, Hiroki, a quiet thin boy. There were two Hiroki in the class, the one is thin and quiet and the other one was healthy plump and active. Then, the girl next to Misa, Saki chan, also told me that she also liked two boys in the classroom, she pointed to Ryusei dan Kaito whose brother was in the 6th grade. I appreciated their boldness. The boys, Ryusei and Kaito, were not shy nor did they feel awkward about it. Ryusei is a handsome boy and I know he will be a heart-breaker. He loves pretty girls and he knows how to capture their attention. He knows how to get my attention. He knows how to be sweet in front of me. I asked Misa what kind of guy she liked. She said she liked a boy who was handsome, kind and rich. Then I asked the same question to Saki, basically she said the same things. Then I asked whether she liked someone who was clever and smart. The answer was quite surprising for me. She replied that it did not matter whether the guy was smart or not. "Atama yokunakutemo ii!" I laughed loudly. The HRT only smiled. She is a kind of person who never shows her true feelings and never be expressive. Saki also said that she did not want to go to college nor university. She said that she was not clever nor smart. Saki wants to be an Idol. She said that an idol did not need a "good head". Still young but she had determined her life and judged that she did not want to have tertiary education. The HRT confirmed that and added that the parents supported her and did not encourage her to have higher education. In my country, we all want to have higher education instead of our poverty, however, here in this wealthy country, a kid does not want to go to school.
Falling in love for the right reasons
Mrs. Lusi Supratman's sermon on Sunday, Feb 8th, 2009 in Narimasu Grace Square Chapel, Tokyo, Japan.
Start with the right reason.
Do you know Disney love stories? What do they say about love?
1. Cinderella = two different status (The prince and the maid)
2. Snow White = save me from my family's pressure
3. Sleeping Beauty = waiting for her prince to wake her up
4. Little Mermaid = unrealistic love (a mermaid loves a human, fish wants to be a human)
5. Beauty and the Beast = rich but bad tempered
6. Aladdin = a lucky thief who married a princess
Then Mrs. Lusi asked several sisters and brothers to come up to the front and tell what kind of person they want for their future wives or husbands. Sisters, basically, focused on a quality of a guy.
Sis. Miyuki said she wanted a person who loved and feared God.
Sis. Sally said she wanted a guy who was kind
Sis. Ida said she wanted a boyfriend who had the same vision as hers.
Bro. Amin wanted a girl who was mature
Bro. Kornelius said he wanted a person who fitted him.
Bro. Very said he wanted a person who could cook.
Bro. Hepi wanted a girl who could sing
Every one has a different type. Each one of you is unique. God created us differently. He gives us a freewill. It is our choice to love God or to love other things. To love is your decision and your choice. If it is forced, it is not love.
2 Cor.6:14-18 Are light and darkness the same?
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people." "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."
1. Open your eyes and heart widely to see yourself and your partner's strengths, weaknesses, characters, habits, family background, etc. Can you accept them?
2. Know yourself, recognize your own personal values and do not based your values on what other people say about you, what you do for a living, your achievement, because they only see the external factors.
3. Eph.1:4-5 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will... This means that we are precious in God's eyes. God focuses his love for us.
4. Be true to yourself. No body can say that a person fits you. No one can say that man/woman is good for you. Many times our way of thinking is influenced by others, so we need to be honest to ourselves.
5. Characters. A small lie will destroy all. Unfaithfulness, laziness, recklessness, frugality, slick and irresponsibility will destroy all. Have the right characters. We can't live with the person who is irresponsible and untrustworthy. Therefore, we need to open our eyes and do not force ourselves to live with a such person. Good and sound characters will make a long-lasting marriage.
6. Emotion and anger. We have to see our partner's way to handle anger, stress and emotion.
- discuss conflicts immediately and thorougly
- do not tardy, do not linger, do not wait to discuss conflicts
- do not change the subject
- do not bring up past mistakes
- confront for resolution not for winning
- does s/he have unstable emotion?
- does s/he have a negative way of thinking?
7. Consider his/her family background. It is important for you to know your partner's parents. Family background matters. Make sure that your partner is a whole person, person who is restored by God, not a person who is badly "tortured" by his/her past. Sometimes we have the attitude of "hero/heroine" to save him/her. It is similar with covering a time-bomb. We'll be blown away to pieces at unknown time. We'll be the ones who suffer.
8. Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. In Indonesian we say, "Jangan merupakan pasangan yg tidak seimbang" the translation is, "Do not be partner with someone who is not equal to you." In other words, someone who does not share the same values." Values mean belief, spiritual, mentality, characters, intellectual, principles, maturity, etc.
In my opinions these principles are true. The older we get, the more requirements we put on our "ideal" partner. Younger people when they fall in love, they just like each other, they do not think such complicated things. However, the older we get, we will have more requirements. These thoughts get back to me.
The insight from the sermon is fine with me but there are some items that I disagree as they are also confirmed with my friends. One of them is regarding the story of Disney Love Stories. My friend, Dian , disagreed with her saying that Sleeping beauty was a lazy girl who just did nothing but waiting for the "her Prince" to save her. Dian said that it was not her will to sleep, the witch's curse made her sleep. Then I realized that she was right.
Start with the right reason.
Do you know Disney love stories? What do they say about love?
1. Cinderella = two different status (The prince and the maid)
2. Snow White = save me from my family's pressure
3. Sleeping Beauty = waiting for her prince to wake her up
4. Little Mermaid = unrealistic love (a mermaid loves a human, fish wants to be a human)
5. Beauty and the Beast = rich but bad tempered
6. Aladdin = a lucky thief who married a princess
Then Mrs. Lusi asked several sisters and brothers to come up to the front and tell what kind of person they want for their future wives or husbands. Sisters, basically, focused on a quality of a guy.
Sis. Miyuki said she wanted a person who loved and feared God.
Sis. Sally said she wanted a guy who was kind
Sis. Ida said she wanted a boyfriend who had the same vision as hers.
Bro. Amin wanted a girl who was mature
Bro. Kornelius said he wanted a person who fitted him.
Bro. Very said he wanted a person who could cook.
Bro. Hepi wanted a girl who could sing
Every one has a different type. Each one of you is unique. God created us differently. He gives us a freewill. It is our choice to love God or to love other things. To love is your decision and your choice. If it is forced, it is not love.
2 Cor.6:14-18 Are light and darkness the same?
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people." "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."
1. Open your eyes and heart widely to see yourself and your partner's strengths, weaknesses, characters, habits, family background, etc. Can you accept them?
2. Know yourself, recognize your own personal values and do not based your values on what other people say about you, what you do for a living, your achievement, because they only see the external factors.
3. Eph.1:4-5 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will... This means that we are precious in God's eyes. God focuses his love for us.
4. Be true to yourself. No body can say that a person fits you. No one can say that man/woman is good for you. Many times our way of thinking is influenced by others, so we need to be honest to ourselves.
5. Characters. A small lie will destroy all. Unfaithfulness, laziness, recklessness, frugality, slick and irresponsibility will destroy all. Have the right characters. We can't live with the person who is irresponsible and untrustworthy. Therefore, we need to open our eyes and do not force ourselves to live with a such person. Good and sound characters will make a long-lasting marriage.
6. Emotion and anger. We have to see our partner's way to handle anger, stress and emotion.
- discuss conflicts immediately and thorougly
- do not tardy, do not linger, do not wait to discuss conflicts
- do not change the subject
- do not bring up past mistakes
- confront for resolution not for winning
- does s/he have unstable emotion?
- does s/he have a negative way of thinking?
7. Consider his/her family background. It is important for you to know your partner's parents. Family background matters. Make sure that your partner is a whole person, person who is restored by God, not a person who is badly "tortured" by his/her past. Sometimes we have the attitude of "hero/heroine" to save him/her. It is similar with covering a time-bomb. We'll be blown away to pieces at unknown time. We'll be the ones who suffer.
8. Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. In Indonesian we say, "Jangan merupakan pasangan yg tidak seimbang" the translation is, "Do not be partner with someone who is not equal to you." In other words, someone who does not share the same values." Values mean belief, spiritual, mentality, characters, intellectual, principles, maturity, etc.
In my opinions these principles are true. The older we get, the more requirements we put on our "ideal" partner. Younger people when they fall in love, they just like each other, they do not think such complicated things. However, the older we get, we will have more requirements. These thoughts get back to me.
The insight from the sermon is fine with me but there are some items that I disagree as they are also confirmed with my friends. One of them is regarding the story of Disney Love Stories. My friend, Dian , disagreed with her saying that Sleeping beauty was a lazy girl who just did nothing but waiting for the "her Prince" to save her. Dian said that it was not her will to sleep, the witch's curse made her sleep. Then I realized that she was right.
Monday, January 12, 2009
God's Provision during Drought
Pemeliharaan Tuhan di masa kekeringan.
Look at the best photo http://www.flickr.com/photos/90865307@N00/254024817
It was taken in Tizirzak, Air mountains, Nothern Niger, 2005.
The picture shows a big green tree in the middle of a desert. That tree can stand alone in the midst of a harsh environment. Why? Because its root can find a water source deep in the soil.
Isaiah 41:18-20 "I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs. I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set pines in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together, so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the LORD has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it."
Like the picture, "A big green tree that can grow in the middle of the desert", it is God that has made it grow in the midst of a harsh land, so are we. God keeps us and takes care of us, just like He takes care of the tree so that people may see and know, may consider and understand that the hand of the LORD has done it. All the glory goes back to Him.
Read 1 Kings 17:1-16 Story of Elijah fed by ravens and a widow at Zarephath. The two stories tell us how God kept His people in time of drought.
Verse 2 states "the word of the Lord came to Elijah"
Verse 5 says "so he did what the Lord had told him"
Verse 8 shows "Then the word of the Lord came to him"
Verse 14 says "This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says"
Verse 16 states "The word of the Lord"
Five times the word of the Lord are stated in the story. it means that it is very important to pay attention to what God says, to God's word.
Psalm 1:1-3 "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers."
Remember the tree and the man who is stated in the Psalm 1 verse 3. The tree can withstand harsh condition because it can find its source of water, likewise the man. Water is the word of God. The word of God is often depicted as water. If we root ourselves in the word of God we will be like the tree that still grows in the middle of the desert.
What can we learn?
1. Hearing God's word and doing His commands
2. Obedience to God's word releases His provision in times of difficulty.
God can not compel us to listen to Him. He can not force us to read His word.
It is our decision and our willingness to submit to Him.
This is what I've got before new year in Indonesia and after new year in Japan.
When I attended the Service in Mawar Saron, Jakarta, the pastor also spoke the same thing, "Listen to God". Just yesterday, I got this message again from my pastor in IFGF Tokyo.
Look at the best photo http://www.flickr.com/photos/90865307@N00/254024817
It was taken in Tizirzak, Air mountains, Nothern Niger, 2005.
The picture shows a big green tree in the middle of a desert. That tree can stand alone in the midst of a harsh environment. Why? Because its root can find a water source deep in the soil.
Isaiah 41:18-20 "I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs. I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set pines in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together, so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the LORD has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it."
Like the picture, "A big green tree that can grow in the middle of the desert", it is God that has made it grow in the midst of a harsh land, so are we. God keeps us and takes care of us, just like He takes care of the tree so that people may see and know, may consider and understand that the hand of the LORD has done it. All the glory goes back to Him.
Read 1 Kings 17:1-16 Story of Elijah fed by ravens and a widow at Zarephath. The two stories tell us how God kept His people in time of drought.
Verse 2 states "the word of the Lord came to Elijah"
Verse 5 says "so he did what the Lord had told him"
Verse 8 shows "Then the word of the Lord came to him"
Verse 14 says "This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says"
Verse 16 states "The word of the Lord"
Five times the word of the Lord are stated in the story. it means that it is very important to pay attention to what God says, to God's word.
Psalm 1:1-3 "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers."
Remember the tree and the man who is stated in the Psalm 1 verse 3. The tree can withstand harsh condition because it can find its source of water, likewise the man. Water is the word of God. The word of God is often depicted as water. If we root ourselves in the word of God we will be like the tree that still grows in the middle of the desert.
What can we learn?
1. Hearing God's word and doing His commands
2. Obedience to God's word releases His provision in times of difficulty.
God can not compel us to listen to Him. He can not force us to read His word.
It is our decision and our willingness to submit to Him.
This is what I've got before new year in Indonesia and after new year in Japan.
When I attended the Service in Mawar Saron, Jakarta, the pastor also spoke the same thing, "Listen to God". Just yesterday, I got this message again from my pastor in IFGF Tokyo.
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