Thinking Aloud

I realized that my posts of late are concered primarily with happenings back home in Malaysia and rather mundane aspects of my life.

With respect to the latter, apologies. I just can’t think of anything better to post.

But for the former, I make no apologies. These are the examples of things that get me very worked up. The imposition of authority through brute force- " There is no need to debate, just accept it!"

But then, enough said about the Malaysian political culture. I guess I should post something about my spiritual life (or lack thereof).

Transition from VCF to a local church was relatively smooth. Right now I’m with a PCM group and serving in both Faith Acts and the choir. I guess (if there are any VCFers who still read this blog) that involvement in a local church is kinda the anchor. To transition smoothly out from VCF and still continue to grow, we do need to invovle ourselves in something more than Sunday worship services.

Quiet time has been rather off an on. Still adapting to the rigor of waking up early before rushing to school to do work. But, I’ve made my commitment once more go over the Bible, cover to cover again. With the help from biblegateway.com ’s reading plan. I should finish it in exactly one year.

All this said, does this make me ok?

I don’t think so. I’m not ok. I realize it everyday. Something is missing. Maybe a taste of heaven, or a dissatisfaction with what the world offers. Maybe it’s that bout of loneliness all we single people struggle with. Or out struggle with sin. Nah, I’m not ok. I’m just on a journey just like everybody else.  

Haha, I finally got down to reading Dan Brown’s controversial piece. Apparently its the second in book where Robert Langdon is featured as the protagonist (The first is Angels and Demons).

I can see where the controversy comes from. But the most crucial of the claims in the novel-the parts which cannot be reduced to a mere fictional device-is the fact was Jesus was merely a man.

In a sense this claim is nothing new. Philosophers and contrarian theologians have been claiming that Jesus wan not divine ever since. It’s also the central premise in Philip Pullman’s His Dark Material’s trilogy. God is not divine, just a glorified angel.

Another contentious point is the nature of faith. Brown’s definition of faith is what we are all familiar with-a neccessary lie that makes the world a better place to live in.

Anyway, just for the record, like Pullman’s opus, I liked the book as an example of good storytelling. I sort of anticipated the ending (there’s a plot twist which I won’t spoil for anyone). But the ending satisfying nonetheless. Suffices to say, I don’t think Brown was attacking the church cos in the story, the ultimate bad guy wasn’t even the church (or in particular the Catholic Church).

‘Nuff said, if you are on the look for a murder mystery with a garnishing of an ironic plot twist, here’s a good one for you.