Wow... today I went with a friend from Singapore to buy some books on METANOIA. He bought me some books, entitled Hidup Bergaul Dengan Tuhan by Ev. Drg. Yusak Tjipto (for those who might be wondering, sorry, there's no English translation for that book AFAIK, and the closest translation I can give you for the title is "Living Close With God"...). I've read Book One and Two... Book Three is still waiting for me tomorrow, my friend said he will lend it to me as soon as I finished the first two. Whoa I got a lot from that book. Some I will share here today... and some I will share later the next days... For my Indonesian readers, I encourage you to buy these! Rp 75.000,- for 3 books is a bargain!

Behavior In His Presence
It was 6.55 am, and he was waiting to meet the LORD at 7 am as usual. As he waited, he sat in a chair and crossed his legs. Suddenly Jesus came and said, "Who do you think you're facing, lifting your legs like that?!". Whoa this is a shocking message for me, as I usually uh... read the Bible while sleeping in my bed... XD And I prayed without kneeling but just sitting in my bed taking a crossing legs meditation-like pose... Somehow I must take care of this, even if He looks inside our hearts and not our pose, a respectful behavior is still needed. As I will try to wake up 5 am in the morning starting from tomorrow to spend time with HIM, I must heed this carefully.

Two Watching Angels
When he moved to a remote island to begin his deployment as a doctor, it was six months before his wife and children could move there. During the six months, came a temptation, as a woman from Hongkong had a crush on him and one day tempted him by coming only wearing a very thin transparent dress and nothing underneath. But there was two figures standing with him wherever he went and at that time, he couldn't do anything, not because he had no lust, but because they were two angels sent by God to protect him during the six months. This is very awesome, God knew the weakness of His children, for this man (the same with me) it was lust. God provided His divine protection for him so he would not fall during his six months in loneliness without his family.

Letting God Work In ALL Things
There was a time when he was still a college student in a Dentist major, he couldn't follow the tests because out of 2000 students, only 150 a month is allowed to take a test, and the students that can take them is taken by lottery. His name never showed for 2 years. But there was a rule, if a student would take 12 tests at once, he can take them anytime. God told him to take 12 tests at once and He will guide him. But in the first day, as the first two tests were easy for him, he said to God, "Do not help me on these, let me work on my own". And God answered, "Because of your arrogance, you will fail!". He failed those two tests and repented, and God led him through the other 10 tests so he succeeded. Letting God work in all things is important, if you do not put everything to His hands, you will surely fail and fall. This was also a shock message, as I usually did the same. When it's exams and the given problems were hard, I fell praying to Him for guidance... but when the problems were easy, I forgot to pray and just worked on them without asking for any help from God. Are you like this too?

Well, that's just some pages that I took from the books, maybe just about 4-5 pages. Interested? Go buy them! =p


••• Thursday, December 04, 2003 •••