Tag Archives: sydney

mmmm King Solomon mmmm

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mmmm Mum’s homemade Peach Cake mmmm

Mum lovingly baked a fruity cake for my family

Tastes delicious when served with ice cream

This light cake is moist and not too sweet

Perfect for dessert and a light snack

I have been reading about King Solomon recently:

At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream,

and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.

Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David,

because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart.

You have continued this great kindness to him and

have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.

“Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David.

But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.

Your servant is here among the people you have chosen,

a great people, too numerous to count or number.

So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and

to distinguish between right and wrong.

For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.

So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life

or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies

but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked.

I will give you a wise and discerning heart,

so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.

1 Kings chapter 3 verses 5 to 12

King Solomon made for himself the carriage

he made it of wood from Lebanon.

Its posts he made of silver,

its base of gold.

Its seat was upholstered with purple,

its interior inlaid with love.

Daughters of Jerusalem, come out,

and look, you daughters of Zion.

Look on King Solomon wearing a crown,

the crown with which his mother crowned him

on the day of his wedding,

the day his heart rejoiced.

Song of Songs chapter 3 verses 9 to 11

Solomon was the son of Bathsheba and King David

He became the king of Israel after the death of his father

Solomon was a young man when he became king

God spoke to him in a dream

Solomon asked for wisdom

God was pleased to give him a wise and discerning heart

Solomon became the wisest king of Israel

His wisdom is recorded in the books of Proverbs and Song of Songs

Solomon also became the richest king of Israel

He ruled over a peaceful and prosperous country

Solomon built the temple for the LORD

1 Kings records the construction of the temple in great detail

The Queen of Sheba visited King Solomon

She was impressed with his wisdom and wealth

Solomon loved many foreign women

He had 700 wives and 300 concubines

God had told the Israelites not to intermarry with foreigners

Unfortunately Solomon’s wives led him astray

He worshipped the foreign gods of his wives

God punished Solomon by splitting his kingdom after his death

Solomon is mentioned in the New Testament:

“And why do you worry about clothes?

See how the lilies of the field grow.

They do not labour or spin.

Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these.”

Matthew chapter 6 verses 28 & 29

Jesus referred to Solomon in his sermon on the mount

He compared the lilies of the field with Solomon’s robes

The riches of Solomon were no match for the beauty of God’s creation

Jesus reminds us that we are more valuable than the lilies of the field

We are encouraged to seek first the kingdom of God

This Christmas we are reminded of the birth of Jesus

As a king, Jesus is greater and wiser than Solomon

His kingdom is eternal

Jesus came to bring people into his kingdom

His kingdom began with his death and resurrection

We enter his kingdom by grace

Jesus offers forgiveness for our sins

We now have peace with God

The promise of eternal life is what we hope for

This Christmas, who do you trust to save you?

Is Jesus your Lord and Saviour?

For believers: how can Jesus help you to be wise?

mmmm bible mmmm

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mmmm esther mmmm

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mmmm Mum’s homemade Apple Pie mmmm

Mum lovingly baked an Apple Pie for my family

Tastes delicious when served hot with ice cream

This pie is gluten-free for my coeliac nephew

He had 2 servings because he was extra hungry

Mum bakes many gluten-free treats for him

This reminds me of special food mentioned in the Bible

I have been reading the Old Testament book of Esther recently

This book is set in the time during the Babylonian exile of the Jews

Mordecai and Esther were Jews from the tribe of Benjamin

They eventually settled in the Persian capital of Susa

King Xerxes was looking for a new queen

He ordered that many young girls be brought to his palace

Esther was one of these young girls

The young girls received beauty treatments and special food

The king was attracted to Esther more than any of the other women

He crowned Esther queen and gave a great banquet in celebration

Later on, a royal official named Haman plotted to destroy the Jews

He persuaded the king to sign a decree to exterminate the Jews

The king agreed not knowing the Esther was actually a Jew

This decree caused much mourning amongst the Jews

Mordecai asked Esther to speak to the king about this decree

The Law stated that anyone who approached the king uninvited must be put to death

This is how Esther responded to Mordecai:

“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me.

Do not eat or drink for 3 days, night or day.

I and my maids will fast as you do.

When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law.

And if I perish, I perish.”

Esther chapter 4 verse 16

Esther risked her own life to save her people

She approached the king and her life was spared

Esther told the king about Haman’s evil plot

The king was enraged and ordered Haman’s execution

Esther persuaded the king to sign a new decree

This decree gave the Jews the right to protect themselves against persecution

The Jews successfully fought against their enemies and won

Even though the book of Esther does not mention God:

God used Esther to save his people

This Easter, we remember an even greater saviour

At great cost to Himself, God sacrificed his own son Jesus to save us

God did not spare his own son from death on a cross

He spilt the blood of his son to cleanse and purify us

God opened up a new way for his people to have a relationship with Him

Through Jesus we now have forgiveness of our sins and the gift of eternal life

This forgiveness and eternal life is now available to all who trust in Jesus

We do not earn salvation through good works

God graciously forgives us and adopts us into his family through Jesus

This is truly amazing grace!

This Easter, who do you trust to save you?

Is Jesus your Lord and Saviour?

For believers: how is Jesus the king of your life?

mmmm bible mmmm

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I do not endorse or receive payment for the advertisements that you may see above or below my blog. WordPress is the sole beneficiary and solely responsible for advertising on its own platform. If you see any inappropriate advertising, please report this to WordPress directly. Thanks & Happy Easter!

mmmm proverbs mmmm

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mmmm Char Kway Teow before Christmas mmmm

Earlier this year I blogged that Coronavirus has closed Sydney hawker stalls

Thankfully they have reopened and I’m able to enjoy this Asian noodle dish again

But Sydney is experiencing another Coronavirus outbreak

The state government has locked down the Northern Beaches region

There are new restrictions for all Sydneysiders

Other Australian states have banned travel from Sydney

This has thrown many Aussie’s Christmas holiday plans into chaos

My church cancelled all services today as a precaution

My friends cancelled a fellowship lunch today because of Coronavirus

In this time of great uncertainty I am reminded of my favourite Old Testament verses:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

And lean not on your own understanding

In all your ways acknowledge him

And he will direct your paths

Do not be wise in your own eyes

Fear the LORD and shun evil

Proverbs chapter 3 verses 5, 6 and 7

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom

And knowledge of the Holy One is understanding

Proverbs chapter 9 verse 10

This Old Testament book contains the sayings of wise kings including Solomon

A key theme is the fear of the LORD and the beginning of wisdom

Proverbs teaches us that God’s wisdom is invaluable

And that Man’s wisdom is foolishness in comparison

My favourite verses remind me to trust in the LORD’s wisdom wholeheartedly

And reject my own foolish human wisdom

I am reminded to seek guidance from God in all things

And He will show me which path to take

Another reminder to revere the LORD and worship Him

As He is the source of all wisdom and understanding

Learning more about God is worthwhile and fruitful

Reading the Bible reveals God’s love and mercy to his people

The world is gripped with fear and anxiety over Coronavirus

We see record numbers of cases and deaths in the USA and Europe

God is a refuge for those who are fearful and anxious about Coronavirus

God is wise and cares for those who trust in Him

He has provided a vaccine in response to many prayers around the world

The Coronavirus reminds us that the world is not our real home

We are only passing through on our way to heaven:

A paradise where there is no more sickness and sin

The Coronavirus reminds us that humans are not in control of the world

Only God is in wise control of the world and He is trustworthy

So despite all the bad news about the coronavirus

We can find peace with God through Jesus

He is a source of comfort for all those who trust in Him

We can pray and know that God listens to our prayers

Who do you trust this Christmas?

Can your government stop coronavirus from spreading?

What is important to you and your family this Christmas?

For believers: how does trusting in God guide your paths?

mmmm bible mmmm

Note about advertising on WordPress:

I do not endorse or receive payment for the advertisements that you may see above or below my blog. WordPress is the sole beneficiary and solely responsible for advertising on its own platform. If you see any inappropriate advertising, please report this to WordPress directly. Thanks & Merry Christmas!

mmmm 1 samuel 8 mmmm

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Mmmm spicy Chinese beef with Italian Farfalle & Parmesan Mmmm

I love cooking Fusion Food that mixes my Asian heritage with Aussie flavours!

But that’s not the only food that is mouth-watering.

At Bible College, I’m eating mouthfuls of Old Testament this semester.

4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, ‘You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to leadus, such as all the other nations have.’ 6 But when they said, ‘Give us a king to lead us,’ this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: ‘Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.’

1 Samuel 8:4-7

The book of 1 Samuel talks about Israel’s first king.

The elders of Israel don’t want a repeat of the anarchy when Israel was led by Judges.

So they ask Samuel for a king just like the neighbouring nations have.

This idolatrous request is a slap in the face of God as we read in the verses above.

Israel has rejected God as their king.

In the rest of chapter 8, God warns that a king will enslave and tax them.

The elders refuse to listen to wisdom and stubbornly repeat their request for a king.

Like other parts of the Old Testament, God gives the Israelites over to their sinful desires.

God is still sovereign: He uses kingship as a mechanism to judge and bless Israel.

So what does this mean for us today?

Verse 7 above reminds me of the popular Gospel tool: 2 Ways To Live.

God created the whole universe and is rightfully king over all peoples on earth.

But all humans reject God as their king.

Instead, we appoint ourselves as “king” and try to rule our own lives without God.

But we fail to rule the world properly and control our own lives.

God will punish us for our rebellion with death and judgement.

God sent Jesus to die in our place and take God’s punishment that we deserve.

God raised Jesus to life as King of the Universe and He will return to judge all people.

So we now have 2 choices:

1. Accept Jesus as our king and rely on his death to pay for our rebellion.

2. Continue as “king” and suffer the consequences of our rebellion: death and judgement.

Which way do you choose to live your life?

mmmm Bible mmmm

mmmm 1 samuel 2 mmmm

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Mmmm spicy Thai Green Curry with Tofu Mmmm

Sydney has fantastic Asian food that is so fresh!

But that’s not the only food that is mouth-watering.

At Bible College, I’m eating mouthfuls of Old Testament this semester.

6 ‘The Lord brings death and makes alive;
he brings down to the grave and raises up.
7 The Lord sends poverty and wealth;
he humbles and he exalts.
8 He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes
and makes them inherit a throne of honour.
‘For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s;
on them he has set the world.

1 Samuel 2:6-8

After the anarchy of Judges in the previous blog post below, we come to a new period in Israel’s history.

1 Samuel opens with the birth of the prophet Samuel to Hannah.

Hannah was so thankful to God for answering her prayer that she dedicates Samuel to priestly service.

A portion of her thanksgiving prayer is quoted above.
But take time to read the whole of Chapters 1 & 2 in 1 Samuel.

Hannah’s prayer acts like a roadmap for Israel’s kingship history that follows.

Even though she is not a prophet, the words of her prayer are prophetically played out in the lives of Israel’s kings.

We can see that God alone is in control of the rise and fall of kings.

David, Israel’s greatest king had humble beginnings as a shepherd and God exalted him (lifted him up) to become the leader of a nation.

But sadly, David abused his royal power and God humbled him in the end with disastrous consequences for his family. But God still lovingly forgave him and promised that his dynasty would last forever.

So what does this mean for us?

God brings prosperity and also poverty to everyone on earth – Christians or non-Christians.

Some people have the wrong view of Christianity – they believe that as long as they follow the Ten Commandments, God will shower them with wealth and success in their lives.

But Christians can also experience poverty, hardship and unemployment at some point in their lives.

This is not necessarily because they are leading “bad” lives.

Bad things can also happen occasionally to “good” people or loyal followers of God.

God is reminding us that he is in control and that we need to trust him even when disaster strikes in our lives.

Whether we are rich or poor, we need to live humbly before God and not to become proud of our own achievements. We need to thank God in good and bad circumstances.

It’s not all bad news: there is a greater promise in these verses.

God has the amazing power to raise people from the dead!

God raised Jesus to life again after he died on the cross.

If we trust Jesus with our lives, God will also raise us to eternal life after we die.

This is the hope and confidence that Christians have.

Some Christians are rich, some Christians are poor.

But we all will face Jesus as our judge at the end of our lives, regardless of our wealth.

Clearly we cannot control the global economy or prevent cancer from striking.

How do you cope when disaster strikes?

Who do you trust?

mmmm Bible mmmm

mmmm judges 2 mmmm

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Mmmm fantastic Korean BBQ feast on the weekend Mmmm

Sydney has the most diverse multicultural Food in Australia!

But that’s not the only food that is mouth-watering.

At Bible College, I’m eating mouthfuls of Old Testament this semester.

6 After Joshua had dismissed the Israelites, they went to take possession of the land, each to their own inheritance. 7 The people served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had seen all the great things the Lord had done for Israel.

8 Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of a hundred and ten. 9 And they buried him in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath Heresin the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.

10 After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. 11 Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals.

Judges 2:6-11

Joshua successfully led the Israelites to claim the Promised Land.

During his lifetime, the Israelites followed God faithfully and lived in peace.

But after Joshua and that generation died, a new generation grew up not knowing the amazing things that God did for their parents.

Joshua’s generation failed to teach the younger generation about God.

The children started worshipping idols or Baals and turned away from God completely.

And so we have the sad book of Judges which details the anarchy that followed.

Similarly in Australia, most of the Baby Boomer generation went to church in the 1960s and were familiar with the Bible. Australia was a “Christian” society.

But now most of Generations X & Y no longer go to church and know nothing about God.

Their parents failed to teach them about the Bible.

Now Australia is a “post-Christian” society where most people in my generation chase after other false idols like money, career and sexuality.

But these false idols don’t bring happiness, they bring loneliness and emptiness.

Australia has higher rates of alcoholism, divorce, depression and suicide than ever before.

Do you know the hope and peace that only God can give you?

If you are a Christian, are you teaching your kids about the Bible?

mmmm Bible mmmm

mmmm joshua 1 mmmm

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Mmmm yummy Chinese Rice Noodles with Chicken, Fish Tofu & Fresh Coriander Mmmm

Sydney has the best Chinese Food in Australia!

But that’s not the only food that is mouth-watering.

At Bible College, I’m eating mouthfuls of Old Testament this semester.

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.’ 10 So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: 11 ‘Go through the camp and tell the people, “Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.”’

Joshua 1:9-11

Here we have the amazing encouragement of God’s presence with his people.

Joshua succeeded Moses in leading the Israelites after the exodus from Egypt.

The previous generation were too afraid to claim the land that God promised them.

The new generation of Israelites now had a choice:

  • Would they trust God and follow Joshua across the river Jordan into the new land?
  • Or would they give in to their fears and continue wandering in the desert?

God sent Joshua to save the Israelites.

God sent a greater saviour Jesus to bring everyone home and give us rest.

This home is not the physical nation state of Israel and the disputed territories of Palestine.

This home is heaven where we can finally rest from all our worries.

  • Is that what you hope for at the end of your earthly life?
  • Or are you too afraid to trust in Jesus?
  • Are you worried about your own security and whether you have enough money?

God offers a life where we do not have to be terrified.

Do you want to have reassurance that God is with you in this life and the next?

It’s an amazing relief knowing that God cares for you and is walking beside you every step of the way.

mmmm Bible mmmm

mmmm deuteronomy 6 mmmm

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Mmmm Enjoyed delicious Aussie Seafood at Sydney’s Palm Beach on the weekend Mmmm

Sydney has amazing seafood that is so fresh!

But that’s not the only food that is mouth-watering.

At Bible College, I’m eating mouthfuls of Old Testament this semester.

4 Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the door-frames of your houses and on your gates.

 Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Recently, I was talking to my Jewish workmate about the Shema or verse 4 above.

It struck me how impersonal his relationship with God was.

It’s possible for Jews to follow all the Laws in the Torah (1st 5 books in the Bible)
and not really know who God is.

They can robotically observe all the Laws without having any real love towards God.

These Laws are an inconvenience as Jews get on with their ordinary lives.

These Laws are open to abuse as Jews try to find loopholes to avoid obeying them completely.

Jews probably view God as some anonymous “cosmic policeman”
who spoils their fun and enjoyment of life.

As Christians, we have a completely different view of the Torah.

Jesus summed up the whole Law with verse 5 above and
“Love your neighbour as yourself”.

Because we have a real relationship with Jesus, these Laws reflect God’s holiness
rather than repetitive rules and regulations.

Our sole purpose is to Love God as our Father with all our whole being –
he is number 1 in our lives.

We view these Laws as a general guide in our lives, not as an inconvenience.

Jesus has freed us from the punishment and consequences of the Law.

Unlike Jews who are culturally bound by the Torah,
Christians do not robotically observe the Law.

Instead our lives are characterised by Love and wanting to please God because he first loved us.

Jesus has superseded the Law and the New Testament has replaced
all of the Food, Ceremonial & Sacrificial Laws and Rituals.

Yet the Ten Commandments reflect our love for God.

We do not have to worry if we accidentally break one of them.

Instead our relationship with Jesus means that we are forgiven.

Christians are known for their love for God, families, friends, neighbours and strangers.

Do you have a close loving relationship with God as your Dad and Jesus as your brother?

If you are a Christian, can people around you see your love for God and others?

mmmm Bible mmmm

mmmm job 28 mmmm

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Come for a delicious journey through God’s Word with a hungry Sydney Bible College student!

Do you crave something more filling than yumcha?

If so, read on ….

Job 28:20-28 (NIV 1984)

“Where then does wisdom come from?
Where does understanding dwell?
It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing,
concealed even from the birds of the air.
Destruction and Death say,
‘Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.’
God understands the way to it
and he alone knows where it dwells,
for he views the ends of the earth
and sees everything under the heavens.
When he established the force of the wind
and measured out the waters,
when he made a decree for the rain
and a path for the thunderstorm,
then he looked at wisdom and appraised it;
he confirmed it and tested it.
And he said to man,
‘The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom,
and to shun evil is understanding.’”

The book of Job in the Old Testament is about a Man and his relationship with God.

Job experiences unexplained suffering and cries out in pain.
His friends try to offer comforting words of wisdom but are tactless and foolish.
Job wonders where true wisdom can be found.

Only God is the source of true wisdom.

Man can find wisdom in right relationship with God.
We do this by humbly approaching Him and recognising that He is the Creator (and we are not!)

He creates thunderstorms like Super Storm Sandy that devastated NE USA recently.
I love New York in the Spring – one of the great cities of the world alongside Sydney.
So to see the recent devastation is heart-breaking and humbling.

When suffering happens to us, we cry out in pain.
But instead of asking, “Why did you do this, God?”

We should ask, “How can I trust God to get me through this suffering?”

God is more important than our treasured homes that can be washed away in a storm.

God is more reliable than politicians who promise but fail to deliver.

God wants us to trust Him when everything collapses around us.

He sent Jesus to give us eternal hope so that we can weather the most powerful storm.

Who do you trust when you lose everything?

mmmm Bible mmmm