I had yet another dream

it was the same place as yesterday, same arrangements, same room, same people
-
except Charles was there where Tim sat
-
and he seemed to make a couple of remarks which made us pretty awkward
-

---

but sometimes, in spite of stuff
-
even if its awkward, I sometimes wish it was true
-
I wish things wouldn't drift apart so easily =/
-
why  ='(

---

I guess one needs to deal with emotions in a mature and logical manner,
-
I guess one also need to know when to move on...
-
but not yet, not yet....

make time

someone I know told me this
-
‘in life, there’s really no such thing as being too busy... we are all given the same amount of time
just whether you’re willing to make time for a friend... ‘
-

---

I'm always willing...
... to make time to do things to make you happy (hopefully lol)
... to make time to sit at a bench outside a basket ball court at chevrons to wait for the exact time to press the send button
... to make time to travel down to whitley after work just to pass something along
... to make time to pray for you while you are away
... to make time to wake up early, to find my way there even if a friend has forgotten
... to make time to sit down and write and think...

---

just like how you were willing...
... to make time to listen to my silly problems
... to make time to stand up for me when others were mean
... to sit out at a mcdonalds waiting for me and watching me eat even though you had dinner at home
... to put up with a sometimes annoying, irritating, immature me

---

time really flies I guess

we all grow up... and moved on to different phases in our lives

but I do know something..

God is always willing to be there for us... all the time...

and thats the greatest assurance we all have... (:

---

Marc told me this
sometimes we need to remove ourselves from situations that might lead to us being socially awkward
-
Tim told me this:
that in many things, we need to give people time, people time to change, we need to be patient in loving one another.
-

---

time is something we don’t really understand
-
but I think its in not understanding, that we learn to have faith in God who transcends time...

CD reviews

My ratings for the CDs I just bought over the week at TP .. haha

Passion: Awakening -> (4.3/5)
- Love the opening track(awakening - Chris Tomlin) which hasn't been released elsewhere...
- These songs really speak out the cry of a generation desperate for God.

tobyMac - Tonight -> (3.7/5)
- This being the first album from tobyMac I bought... so I’m not too familiar with his other albums
- The R&B style is cool, but not exactly to my taste...
- I like the track City On Our Knees though

MercyMe - The Generous Mr Lovewell -> (4.7/5)
- Lighthearted and catchy songs, done in a way that really lifts the spirit up (:

Hillsong -The Beautiful Exchange -> (4.1/5)
- On first hearing, it feels like a typical Hillsong album,
- Similar to the trend of the past few albums, largely guitar and effect synth/ pad driven..
- Closer hearing however allows me to appreciate the album more...
- Some of the lyrics are pretty meaningful too, esp. the title track (which is also extremely long - 10:43)

what ifs

last words - various artists
then you must show me your new.... friend... must be cute okay, not like...
-

---

-----------------
-
hypothetically if that happened...
-
I mean I try to convince myself
-
that everything would be alright ...
-
that I’ll just say the cliche of ‘its all in God’s will’ and therefore I’ll be thankful and give thanks to God
-

---

-----------------
-
but maybe in reality
-
maybe I would be crushed beyond measure
-
maybe I would just fall into a trap of cynicism
-
and maybe...

---

-----------------
-
there really isn’t any point of thinking about it now
-
I found myself thinking about what I am not
-
I’m not perfect, more imperfect than so many other people
-
maybe it’s just another form of discouragement
-

---

-----------------
-
seasons in life come and go
-
circumstances don’t make sense so many times
-
we all fall short of what we could be
-
but I guess
-
everything works by the grace of God... only He can piece together all the broken pieces of life
-
So I pose a question
-
God is this really a thorn in the flesh meant for me to endure, so I can truly say that Your grace is sufficient for me, and You power is made perfect in my weakness?
-
or it’s a test of time? a test of how much I’m willing to change, to learn, to grow in maturity...

---

-----------------
-
maybe I should just listen to advice a close, precious friend of mine told me... 2 years ago
-
‘why do you still hang on to some hope when you know there's practically none?’
-
‘and yeah just look forward to pure friendship i guess’
-
‘it’s better than nothing’
-
‘cos well if there's some element of hope’
-
‘then of course it's worth hanging on to that feeling (maybe) ‘
-

---

so is there hope, at all? i wonder...

Fruit

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
(Galatians 5:16-26)
-

---

________________________
Reading this passage again, after a night of tears, of wrestling with God, of everything I heard from Marc, from sitting opposite Trevose at a park... from fighting with myself while watching buses after buses pass me by
-
this passage frightens me...
-
how many times do ‘christians’, my friends, myself,

• engage in malice, hatred... ?


• have selfish ambitions for our own gain?


• put things before God, whether it is our comfort, our pleasure, our processions, our relationships, which constitute idolatry?


• indulge in drunkenness and wild parties?

-

---

________________________
if we do , even just a bit, we cannot inherit the life that God has promised us, we cannot meet him because we are not holy... and anything which isn’t holy cannot stand before the presence of God
-
if we do, we’re no better than the ‘assistant cell group leader’ of a liberal church movement, whom I heard a certain friend of mine talk about with regard to his promiscuous behaviour...
-

---

________________________
Sin is sin...
-
there is no such thing as a lesser sin or greater sin... God hates sin, there isn’t a difference between big or small...
-

---

________________________
I have heard of people who tell me about how everything is fine, they justify sin by making less of it, by saying its about drawing the line,
-
but if we really are saved, if we have Christ in us as the ruler over our lives...
-
we would have ‘crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires’
-
and the question no longer becomes about ‘where to draw the line, and how to go as close to it as possible with stepping over’
-
but about whether we glorify God in our actions... or dishonour his name

---

________________________
this really is a wake up call for me...
to pray
ask God for forgiveness
ask God to give grace
-
and ask that God will restore all of us who have fallen into the trap of a worldly lifestyle

---

________________________
-
somehow I’ve been putting certain things in my life above my walk with God
-
its not about compromising values to fit in,
-
not about trying to do everything to be appreciated and to be able to enjoy the company of a certain friend
-
sigh... I need forgiveness... I’m so sorry...

and I don't know why, I cant keep my eyes off you...

---

its 3am
-
I wonder why should I get so upset over a small matter like this...
-
but I guess... yeah...

---

everything is beautiful...

gravity

a force that pulls each of us down to earth
-
I think...
it’ll be time
for a reality check
sooner or later
sigh...

responses to the question

everyone says a variety of different things, or same things in a similar way:
’...tell...’
-
‘wait and see lor’
-

---

they all tell me that it won’t make much difference
if the answer is different
-
but yeah... I guess its a thought...
-
if I expect too much from a friend...
-
if i missed you too much...
-
if i had depended on you too much...
-
too much for my own good anyway...
-
.`

---

Charles shared about
-
friendships and relationships built upon Christ
-
something we should treasure the most...
-
and i do treasure ...
more than many things in life...

Thank God its friday

http://cdn2.libsyn.com/mb/tmbs-060707-thank_god_its_friday.mp3

-
‘nuff said...

Love is waiting

A song by Brooke Fraser...:


In the autumn on the ground,
between the traffic and the ordinary sounds
I am thinking signs and seasons while a north wind blows through
I watch as lovers pass me by
Walking stories - whos and hows and whys
Musing lazily on love
Pondering you
I'll give it time, give it space and be still for a spell
When it's time to walk that way we wanna walk it well

I'll be waiting for you baby
I'll be holding back the darkest night
Love is waiting til we're ready, til it's right
Love is waiting

It's my caution not the cold
there's no other hand that i would rather hold
the climate changes, I'm singing for the strangers about you
don't keep time, slow the pace
Honey hold on if you can
the bets are getting surer now that you are mine...

I could write a million songs about the way you say my name
I could live a lifetime with you and then do it all again
and like I can't force the sun to rise or hasten summer's start,
neither should I rush my way into your heart

---

Looking at circumstances around
-
look before you leap
-
wait for God
-
to make everything beautiful in its time...

sleepwalks

the first played upon my feelings of inadequacy as a young BB officer with little experience...
-
the second.
was a random wandering upon the corridors of ACS
it seemed as if though it was some random bday surprise for me (although it was highly unlikely since my bday fall upon a non-school day)
-
but it seemed like nothing to me
-
it was opposite at block B facing the Clock tower
-
sitting and waiting... ...
-
a few brief moments...
-

---

the alarm rings - time to go to work
sigh...
-
I guess I’ve been thinking much about stuff... looks like they also like to invade my dreams
-
I wish...
-
but how true it is
that it is not so much the grandeur that matters
-
but the sincerity...
sigh...

March

Recently, or perhaps for a long time really, slowly and surely, life has been sort of reduced to a sort of routine:

weekdays - NS NS NS NS
Weekends - BB, CHURCH MINISTRIES, FRIENDS ETC
-
there’s been so much its so hard to squeeze God inside... although I still remember one of the many school devotions that was shared by Alistair Su (Year 9)
-
“it is not just about putting God first, its also about putting God 2nd, 3rd, 4th... in everything”
-
yes maybe I’ve been reflecting on God and His work in my life, throughout the week
-
but there isn’t moments, where I could truly sit down, reflect and take time to be still before God
-
No QT, no FireAC, no spiritual retreat,
-
no recharge, burnout...

---

somehow a lot of people like to put emphasis in serving God - the more spiritual one is if they do more things for God
-
but this is a lie... I have so busy trying to do too many things for church and BB, and trying to spend time with non-christian and christian friends alike, trying perhaps in my conversations to bring more people to think about the gospel and God, of life and its meaning...
-
yet I dont feel spiritual at all, I dont feel as if I can feel God closely by my side like I used to....
-

---

yet another thing, about my friendships with a few particular people who have always been there for me in the past, but somehow it become a case where:
-
they’re busy with life elsewhere in the world, be it in cambridge or mcgill, doing life, being busy with sch.
it being difficult to convey my own struggles via packets of internet data(the only means of conversation) with them.
Somehow many times I feel so insecure ... its like I’m always scared that I encroach upon people’s space... after all they have their own life to attend to, why would they be bothered with me?
-
sigh I wish they would come back soon... but oh well
-

---

was at St James Powerstation the other day, was invited by Han an (who had won free tickets) to watch a gig by Alarice and some of my other church mates who were her musicians
-
somehow her music has always been inspiring and uplifting... even as I got my second autographed album from her...
-
but as she did talk about her own song writing journey
-
but I remember I myself, I used to write my own songs, a year back so to speak
-
but somehow I lack the inspiration to pen down more songs... its at if my experiences of God, of life, all lie in the past
-
but how do I rediscover God again?
-

---

in the past, it was struggling with competing loves, but loving another who didn’t love back is a different issue anyway
it was as if the pain of being rejected would draw me closer to God
-
but I don’t have to think so much of the past
this is now, this is my life, a life which can do so many things
the challenge now is not so much of a trial
but merely the danger of monotony consuming me...
-
I also have another question
would uprooting myself from all my ministries in Singapore
and starting anew somewhere else...
hopefully somewhere I still have familiar people to depend on
and perhaps that could open a new chapter with my spiritual walk with God
-
or is there another motive for doing so? sigh...

Thoughts of religious harmony

Following the incident regarding Ps Rony Tan’s interview with the buddhist converts - and the subsequent controversy, media blow up and apology, I have a few thoughts
-
Firstly respect is important, for obvious reasons. The Bible did tell us to set a good testimony for the gentiles to see... hence I guess posting sensitive clips on the web(a public domain where many other ppl not of the faith can see) is not a wise idea.
-
Secondly , and also something I believe strongly , ‘Religious harmony’ and true Christianity is NOT compatible. I feel rather disappointed with Ps Rony having to bend under pressure and promote our government’s agenda.
-
Religious tolerance is not an issue, Christians can live among other non-Christians without riots and stuff. We can still display our beliefs without mocking others.
-
However the idea of religious harmony, where everyone starts accepting each other beliefs (i.e. Your God is okay for me, my God is okay also, all the same God) is total heresy.
Inter-religious events that the government promotes should not be supported.
We cannot accept the beliefs of other religions and so called ‘respect’ them because we know in our hearts that they are all false religions. We ourselves know that Jesus is the only true way to God, and it is our responsibility to preach the gospel to as many as possible so as to bring more into His Kingdom. We will fail in our duty as Christians if we decide to tell everyone all religions lead to the same God, same values etc.
-
We are not Buddhists who believe in truth that is pragmatic and subjective (e.g. all that matters regardless of which way we go, whatever god we follow, as long as I can break out of karma and attain enlightenment thats all the matter)
-
I’m not downplaying the beliefs of others, but I’m merely pointing out the differences.
-
Christianity, Judaism and Islam however is different because each of these 3 believe in empirical objective truth that has only one way. We believe that there is only one true God and all other gods are false. Christianity believes there is only one true way to heaven, and that is through repentance, and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
-
Christianity by itself is meant to be hateful to the world. The Gospel is noted to be a stumbling block and foolishness (1 Cor 1:23), Jesus said that he has not come to bring peace but a sword (Matt 10:24).
-
Christians in the past have been persecuted by the authorities for their faith. Many will quote Romans 13 to me with regard to submitting to authorities. This however does not mean with submit our faith and moral beliefs as dictated by authorities. We believe that while submitting to authorities include serving NS, obeying the law of the country etc., it definitely does not include moral or faith based issues. For instance we do not support the government’s agenda of promoting the IR casino. Hence we cannot also support the Government’s ‘religious harmony’ issue blindly without considering it’s terms.
-
These are my thoughts so far. I have been as frank as I can be, while trying to be sensitive, and sincerely hope no one gets offended.

11:9

Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
-
Ecc 11:9
-

Stop and Stare

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onOTaGayhU4

---

I’m think I’m moving but I get nowhere...
-
sometimes it seems this seems to be the case
-
where am I one year away from the past?
-
I’ve moved away from what I thought was precious in the past
-
I see...
but its gone away; too far away
-

---

if life is really a lot about finding fulfilment - at least from the view of the secular, hedonistic man...
-
so say I thought computer games were the thing that was fulfilling - sec3,4
-
I thought being with somebody whom I liked was considered fulfilling - year 5,6
-
but I realised everything so wrong about it, why it wont work, why it was a good thing it wasn’t mutual...
why everyone kept telling me off
-
so if something makes sense yet no sense to me...
so if dan comments on why I can readily accept the flaws of one but not another...
-

---

its difficult to make out how I feel about stuff...
-
since I’ve more or less alone when it comes to my inner emotions and feelings, I never share them with anyone anymore...
-
I know God knows... but
-
I need to take comfort from that...
-
that He makes all things beautiful
-
in His time... ...

---

I need to stop procrastinating about applying to NUS
-
I know I cant get the first choice I want - no med/dentistry
-
I know I shouldn’t go overseas... no matter how tempted I am to apply to a far far place at the other side of the globe
-
sigh.... =/

Fwd: Christ is the Reason for Christmas - Pass it on

Email from Zhuo'er which I got
-
Although its nothing much new  - I remember getting this a few years back,
but it's still worth sharing.

-----------------------------

---

Hello,

You will be surprised how many people doesn't know the real meaning of Christmas….so pass this on…and dun 'X' out Christ for 'Xmas'…Proclaim the real meaning of Christmas is what we need to doJ

Jesus is Better than Santa Santa lives at the North Pole. JESUS is everywhere. Santa rides in a sleigh JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water. Santa comes but once a year JESUS is an ever present help. Santa fills your stockings with goodies JESUS supplies all your needs. Santa comes down your chimney uninvited JESUS stands at your door and knocks.. and then enters your heart. You have to stand in line to see Santa JESUS is as close as the mention of His name. Santa lets you sit on his lap JESUS lets you rest in His arms. Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, What's your name?" JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads. Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly JESUS has a heart full of love. All Santa can offer is HO HO HO JESUS offers health, help and hope. Santa says "You better not cry" JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you. Santa's little helpers make toys JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions. Santa may make you chuckle but JESUS gives you joy that is your strength. While Santa puts gifts under your tree JESUS became our gift and died on the tree. It's obvious there is really no comparison. We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about. We need to put Christ back in Christmas. Jesus is still the reason for the season.   May the Lord Bless and Watch over you and your loved ones this Christmas 2009 And may He prosper and bless the work of your hands in the New Year. With Lots Of Love,

--

For we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
                                                                                                                                                                               ~Romans 8:38-39

snippets of many thoughts of Christmas

recently I’ve not been posting much here

-

well I could say it for a number of reasons. The main on being that I cant do justice to my thoughts in the form of a blog

-

and the second is that I cant say everything I would want to say here

---

-----------------------

nevertheless

-

on Christmas eve

-

again I pose this question

-

why do people only want to celebrate Xmas - leave Christ out of the picture

substitute the divine glory and wonder, and profound mystery of Christ

-

for the cheap, worthless myth of ‘Santa Claus’

We know Santa Claus is a nice figure, a supposed old man who spreads cheer and gladness and love during Christmas

-

But isn’t Christ so much better, and so much more real?

Christ is the expression of God’s incomparable, incomprehensible love.

-

Christ is the greatest Gift from God to mankind.

No number of santa presents or anything could have been greater as God’s gift to save the world from the reality of sin and hell. To make a way to heaven through the Gift of His son

-

Yet we see the gospel, the good news of Christ being substituted for a mere myth. Or simply just the less important things like shopping, trees, parties...

-

Like the expression of casting pearls to swine. We present the greatest story and gift to mankind, yet men, in their blind depraved state cannot understand , and simply fling Christ out of the window.

“Leave religion out of it” says man,

“Christ is irrelevant to Xmas of today. We just want to hear the ‘good stuff’, we want Santa, gifts, presents, shopping, partying, merrymaking, fun”

“but we don’t want Christ”

-

hence my utter disappointment with the whole 3AMB Christmas event, in which i was involved as the organising commitee.

-

I would have gladly forfeited any Off-in-lieu, even to the extend of sigining extras...

if only Christmas could be celebrated the way it was meant to be celebrated,

if only people heard and knew about how special Christ was to Christmas...

---

-----------------------

its even the same with easter

-

I remember during one of the dry run rehearsals, the emcee who did an intro about the 32FMD skit

-

“Now we would like to invite 32FMD up to stage, who will be giving us the topic of ‘Easter’”

“bunny come on stage, bunny come off stage, end of skit”

-

we deny Christ for yet another myth

---

-----------------------

Another thing I guess is that this year I wont be giving specific presents/cards to people

-

for the very reason that I cant give one to people I would really want to give to because they’re special to me

-

sigh, I still miss you a lot...

---

-----------------------

and I guess finally I would like to do a bit of promotion for an upcoming event I’ll be involved in:

Undignified 2010 - a Worship event

-

http://www.undignifiedasia.com/

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=186572712670

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfWGLcPHIJM&feature=autofb

-

bitter, sweet, sorrow, joy

we see that ever so evident in the Christian walk
-
Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
(2 Cor 5:1-5)
-

---

we have hope and rejoice because of what He has done for us, and we know we have hope for eternity, a heavenly dwelling which cannot be destroyed
-
but we suffer while down here on earth, we do not know what tomorrow brings, be it poverty, loneliness, burdens, separations
-

---

somehow this song - even while sung in mandarin today at Marc’s grandfather’s wake
-
nearly brought tears to me
-
I don't know about tomorrow,
I just live from day to day.
I don't borrow from it's sunshine,
For it's skies may turn to gray.
I don't worry o'er the future,
For I know what Jesus said,
And today I'll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead.

Many things about tomorrow,
I don't seem to understand;
But I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand.

I don't know about tomorrow,
It may bring me poverty;
But the One Who feeds the sparrow,
Is the One Who stands by me.
And the path that be my portion,
May be through the flame or flood,
But His presence goes before me,
And I'm covered with His blood.
-

---

we look to eternity, the tomorrow we cannot see
-
but we know our lives are held in His hand, His plans
-

---

so with regard to everything
be in university studies (NO CHARLES, I AM SO NOT DOING ACCOUNTANCY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ACCOUNTANCY IS NOT COOL)
or in relationships
in anything else in the future, career, God’s calling
-
I know He knows best
-
I guess thats all I need to know
even as I know God has called me to impact the world I live in
-
even as it begins small, with me..

ATT C

taking this for the very first time since I enlisted
-
excessive tiredness =/

---

either way after being busy non-stop over the last few weeks, I guess its a good sabbatical
-
being able to rest at home and enjoy the comfort of my bed and sleeping in....
-
prob wont ever be doing this again anyway... unless I fall really sick...
-
since the last few times I was sick I still went to camp either way...
due to having to do stuff under my job scope...
-

---

well I guess I finally can get to do stuff I couldn’t find time to do for a long time
-
1. write a letter and visit the post office(near my house) to post a letter overseas
2. Practice on my piano a bit
3. Pray and meditate a bit
4. REST at home
-
Army stuff:
1. burn 2Lt Jhon’s REACH dvds
2. Do up the ducktours presentation ( canceled)
-

---

either way yeah
-
recently there’s been so much to post on this blog
but not enough time to reflect upon the things to be said
-
the struggles of sin and temptation
-
the outing on sat which left me very drained and struggling to fight something within me
-
but I guess I’ll think about it...
-
sigh =/

'emil lenses'

do I look through things in a limited perspective
-
through my ‘emil lenses’ so to speak
-
not the bigger picture
-

---

-------------------
but in the end
aren’t we supposed to live our lives in the light of God
-
see things in the way God sees them
open our eyes to see what God wants for us
-
live a life grounded by faith in the Word of God
and live out a life which shows that
-

---

-------------------
people say they tell me these things
-
for my own good
for the good of the people under my sphere of influence
-
and they’re perfect in every way, more worthy of being part of their ministries
-
at least while compared to me
who has been in the lowest of places
been the worse of sinners and disgraced the name of God
-
‘but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more’
-
its by the very fact
when we say God makes foolish the wisdom of the wise
-
we judge things from this perspective
-

---

-------------------
-
So by saying I shouldn’t be in this ministry
are they saying it from their lens?
or the lens that God has given them, (wise christian council???)?
-
because if they say so
they’re saying God made a wrong choice
in letting me be here
-
So who am I to believe?

---

-------------------
But still
we should always remember this in the ministries God puts us in:
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(Philippians 2:1-11)
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,

then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

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