Lagi seneng dengerin audiobook pake HP, jadi kalau di jalan engga boring ; walau to be upfront.. sering ketiduran sih :)

Buku pertama yg didengerin: Become A Better You dari Joel Osteen. Bagus banget dan menyenangkan! Alternatif lain dari dengerin musik, belum lagi audiobook ini sangat encouraging & uplifting!

“Today many people are developing a greater vision for their future and are experiencing more of God’s blessings and favor. But even if you are living your best life now, it is important that you do not become stagnant. God always wants us to increase us, to do more in and through us. He always wants to take us deeper into self discovery and then wants to raise us to a higher level of living. He didn’t create us to be average. He doesn’t want us to settle for “good enough”. He wants us to keep stretching, to keep pressing forward into the next level.

7 steps yang diajarkan di buku ini:

1. Keep Pressing Forward
2. Be Positive Toward Yourself
3. Develop Better Relationships
4. Form Better Habits
5. Embrace the Place Where You Are
6. Develop Your Inner Life
7. Stay Passionate About Life



Me personnaly, I really enjoy every word from it!

Ruben Studdard ini mengingatkan pada Mike Mohede
Sama-sama dibesarkan oleh kontes idol, berperawakan besar dan memiliki suara like an angel.

Album I Need An Angel ini sendiri luar biasa. Beberapa lagu my favorite dinyanyikan ulang dengan sangat cantik oleh Ruben spt Amazing Grace, Shout to the Lord ataupun I Surrender All.

Here's the full complete track and trust me there are no bad songs on it:
1. I Need an Angel
2. Center of My Joy
3. Goin' up Yonder
4. Fix It, Jesus - (with Harvey Watkins Jr.)
5. Amazing Grace
6. Shout to the Lord
7. Running Back to You
8. Restoration
9. We Have Not Forgotten - (with Fred Hammond)
10. I Surrender All
11. Ain't No Need to Worry
12. Don't You Give Up

Not just his voice is excellent & the music is awesome, the lyric is great also; here is some of it:

Take me, shape me, mold me , change me, teach me, fill me, save me
(I Need An Angel)

When I've lost my direction
You're the compass for my way
You're the fire and light when
Nights are long and cold
In sadness You are the laughter
That shadows all my fears
When I'm all alone
Your hand is there to hold
(Center of My Joy)

I have taken advantage of Your love & grace
Forgive me Lord and take me home
(Running Back to You)

Sometimes we feel pain
But there are some things that we can change
Just pray
(Ain't No Need to Worry)

Don't you give up on your dreams
You'll find the hope that you need
Things aren't as bad as they seem
Just keep fighting and you will surely succed
(Don't You Give Up)

Klik di masing-masing judulnya untuk lirik lengkap dari lagu ini: Amazing Grace, Shout to the Lord dan I Surrender All.

I am very pleased with this album, recommended listening to those who love inspirational music!

Buku ini berkisah tentang 2 orang yang tertukar identitasnya.
Keluarga Cerak yang menyangka putrinya (Whitney) meninggal, ternyata 5 minggu kemudian ketahuan bahwa putrinya masih hidup.
Sementara keluarga Van Ryn yang merawat seseorang selama 5 minggu karena disangka dia adalah putrinya, ternyata diketemukan bahwa putrinya (Laura) sendiri telah meninggal.
Semua ini terjadi karena ada kesalahan pengenalan identitas oleh polisi dll. Would it destroy a family? Shatter their faith? Push two families into bitterness, resentment, and guilt?

Setelah tahu, ada kejadian mistaken identity ini; malah seorang pengacara menelepon keluarga Van Ryn dan menawarkan untuk menuntut ke pengadilan atas kasus ini. Van Ryn hanya bilang: 'I hope you find something better to do with your day,'

Bagaimana pengalaman kedua keluarga ini menghadapi unthinkable tragedy & unbearable mistake, berikut petikan wawancaranya di Oprah:

Both the Van Ryn and Cerak families say their faith in God was integral to getting through this ordeal. "I know there are other people that have asked, 'How come you're not upset? How come you're not bitter?'" Newell says. "I know it's because of the forgiveness that we have experienced through our relationship and our faith."

Don says his family was not interested in filing a lawsuit then or now. "I just didn't see what that would gain for us. Over the years, I've learned that forgiveness and love is healthier than bitterness and vengeance," he says. "One of my favorite verses in the Bible says, 'What has the Lord required of you? To act justly. To love mercy. And to walk humbly with your God.' That one phrase—'to love mercy'—you don't see a lot of that today."

by Carol Wimmer

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I am saved"
I'm whispering "I get lost!"
"That is why I chose this way."

When I say..."I am a Christian"
don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
and need someone to be my guide.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
and pray for strength to carry on.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
and cannot ever pay the debt.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
my flaws are too visible
but God believes I'm worth it.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain
I have my share of heartaches
which is why I seek His name.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I do not wish to judge.
I have no authority.
I only know I'm loved.

written by singer/songwriter Darlene Zschech in 1993

Shout to the Lord: all the earth let us sing
Power and majesty praise to the King
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
At the sound of Your name

I sing for joy at the work of Your hands
Forever I'll love You, forever I'll stand
Nothing compares to the promise I have in You

My Jesus, my Savior
Lord, there is none like You
All of my days, I want to praise
The wonders of Your mighty love

My comfort, my shelter
Tower of refuge and strength
Let every breath, all that I am
Never cease to worship You

[repeat above]

Shout to the Lord: all the earth let us sing
Power and majesty praise to the King
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
At the sound of Your name

I sing for joy at the work of Your hands
Forever I'll love You, forever I'll stand
Nothing compares to the promise I have in You

First of all, I don't think it's appropriate for me to start evaluating other religions. If I answer that question, I'm going to be asked about every religion out there, and then I am playing to the very thing that I am seeking to avoid. The more I answer these questions, the more people want to say, "Ah, you describe yourself as a theologian," or "Oh, you're the one who is setting yourself up as a judge of religions." I am damned if I do; I am damned if I don't. I am happy to talk about my religion, but I don't think it's appropriate for me to talk about somebody else's, and part of that is out of conviction. Until I have mastered the art of living my faith, I'm not going to evaluate somebody else's. Our church is very different in that we don't ever focus on that. The motto of the church is taking Jesus as he is to people as they are. So it's really more about: get your own life figured out first, and then don't try to judge and fix somebody else quite yet.

(Thanks to Presidential candidates Mike Huckabee at Newsweek)

by Clement Clarke Moore

(wrote in 1822, also called “A Visit from St. Nicholas”)

 

 

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

 

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.

And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

 

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

 

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

 

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

 

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

 

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

 

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

 

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

 

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

 

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

 

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

 

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

 

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

Our church was saddened to learn this week of the death of one of our most valued members, Someone Else.

Someone's passing creates a vacancy that will be difficult to fill. Else has been with us for many years and for every one of those years, Someone did far more than a normal person's share of the work.

Thank you to all the Someone Else's, who do so much for so many.
Whenever there was a job to do, a class to teach, or a meeting to attend, one name was on everyone's list, "Let Someone Else do it."
Whenever leadership was mentioned, this wonderful person was looked to for inspiration as well as results; "Someone Else can work with that group."

It was common knowledge that Someone Else was among the most liberal givers in our church. Whenever there was a financial need, everyone just assumed Someone Else would make up the difference.

Someone Else was a wonderful person; sometimes appearing superhuman.
Were the truth known, everybody expected too much of Someone Else.

Now Someone Else is gone!
We wonder what we are going to do.
Someone Else left a wonderful example to follow, but who is going to follow it?
Who is going to do the things Someone Else did?

When you are asked to help this year, remember - we can't depend on Someone Else anymore.

Author: Unknown

THE SERENITY PRAYER

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

Thanks to Mr. Brooks movie.
At the movie, Mr. Brooks begins and ends with Brooks whispering Reinhold Niebuhr's (1892-1971) Prayer of Serenity, asking for forgiveness and asking God to stop the killings

See here for other version of The Serenity Prayer.

John Newton: Although my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly. I'm a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.

Barbara Wilberforce: You still have passion! That matters more!

William Wilberforce: No one of our age has ever taken power.
Pitt the Younger: Which is why we're too young to realize certain things are impossible. Which is why we will do them anyway.

William Wilberforce: Remember that God made men equal.

Richard the Butler: You found God, sir?
William Wilberforce: I think He found me.

William Wilberforce: Perhaps we should begin this journey with a first step.

Barbara Wilberforce: Because after night comes day.

Lord Charles Fox: When people speak of great men, they think of men like Napoleon - men of violence. Rarely do they think of peaceful men. But contrast the reception they will receive when they return home from their battles. Napoleon will arrive in pomp and in power, a man who's achieved the very summit of earthly ambition. And yet his dreams will be haunted by the oppressions of war. William Wilberforce, however, will return to his family, lay his head on his pillow and remember: the slave trade is no more.

Duke of Clarence: Noblesse oblige.
Lord Tarleton: What the bloody hell does that mean?
Duke of Clarence: It means: my nobility obliges me to recognize the virtue of an exceptional commoner

Richard the Butler: It is a sad fate for a man to die too well known to everybody else, and still unknown to himself.

(Thanks to Amazing Grace movie)

The Lyrics of the Song
John Newton (1725-1807) wrote the words to one of the most beloved hymns of all time between 1760 and 1770, while working as an evangelical pastor. The lyrics are based on I Chronicles 17:16-17 (Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said:"Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, O God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant. You have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men, O LORD God.), a prayer of King David in which he marvels at God's choosing him and his house.

Amazing Grace, How sweet the sound
That sav'd a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev'd;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ'd!

Thro' many dangers, toils and snare,
I have already come;
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall profess, within the vail,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call'd me here below,
Will be for ever mine.

The Song of the Bird is one of my personal favourite. Written by Fr. Anthony de Mello, S.J. (1931—1987), a Jesuit and well known spiritual director and retreat director. Father de Mello was born in Santa Cruz, a suburb of Mumbai in India. He used many stories, fables and proverbs, collected from different religious traditions to teach spiritual truths.

Here are two stories from The Song of the Bird

---

The Song of the Bird
“Why does the bird sing?” said the Master.
A bird does not sing because he has a statement. He sings because he has a song.

The words of the scholar are to be understood. The words of the master are not to be understood.
They are to be listened to as one listens to the wind in the trees and the sound of the river and the song of the bird.
They will awaken something within the heart that is beyond knowledge.

---

I Chop Wood!
When the Zen master attained enlightenment he wrote the following lines to celebrate it:
"Oh wondrous marvel: I chop wood! I draw water from the well!"

After enlightenment nothing really changes. The tree is still a tree; people are just what they were before and so are you.
You may continue to be as moody or even-tempered, as wise or foolish.
The one difference is that you see things with a different eye.
You are more detached from it all now.
And your heart is full of wonder.

That is the essence of contemplationt: the sense of wonder.
Contemplation is different from ecstasy in that ecstasy leads to withdrawal. The enlightened contemplative continues to chop wood and draw water from the well. Contemplation is different from the perception of beauty in that the perception of beauty (a painting or a sunset) pruduces aesthetic delight, whereas contemplation produces wonder - no matter what it observes, a sunset or a stone.

This is the prerogative of children. They are so often in a state of wonder. So they easily slip into the Kingdom.

By Louisa May Alcott

 

A little kingdom I possess
where thoughts and feelings dwell,
And very hard I find the task
of governing it well;

 

For passion tempts and troubles me,
A wayward will misleads,
And selfishness its shadow casts
On all my words and deeds.

 

How can I learn to rule myself,
to be the child I should,
Honest and brave, nor ever tire
Of trying to be good?

 

How can I keep a sunny soul
To shine along life's way?
How can I tune my little heart
To sweetly sing all day?

 

Dear Father, help me with the love
that casteth out my fear;
Teach me to lean on thee, and feel
That thou art very near,

 

That no temptation is unseen
No childish grief too small,
Since thou, with patience infinite,
Doth soothe and comfort all.

 

I do not ask for any crown
But that which all may win
Nor seek to conquer any world
Except the one within.

 

Be thou my guide until I find,
Led by a tender hand,
Thy happy kingdom in myself
And dare to take command.

 

---

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity (1 Timothy 4:12)

 

just came back from annual staff retreat and got this beautiful message:

 

Sin is not the story, it is the blight on the story. 

Sin distorts everything, perverts everything, corrupts everything. 

It is not sin that makes us bear children, bu it is sin that makes childbearing painful. 

It is not sin that attracts men and women, but it is sin that fills our relationships with control and suspicion. 

It is not sin that makes music, but it is sin that fills our music with vanity and lust. 

It is not sin that makes us construct cities and towers, but it is sin that makes those towers symbols of pride and power. 

It is not sin that calls human beings to live and love, to make music and art, to work and create, to plant and harvest, to play and dance. 

But it is sin that undercuts and perverts them all.

 

Sin does not create things. It has no originality, no creativity, no being in itself. 

Sin lives off that which is good.  It is a parasite, feeding greedily on the goodness of what God has made. 

No relation is of itself sinful, but sin corrupts every relation. 

No area of life is in itself out of the will of God, but we defy God's will in every area of life.

 

(from Paul Marshall in his book Heaven is Not My Home)

by Jonathan Prawira

Jangan lelah bekerja di ladang-Nya Tuhan
Roh Kudus yang bri kekuatan
Yang mengajar dan menopang

Tiada lelah
Bekerja bersama-Mu Tuhan
Yang selalu mencukupkan akan segalanya

Reff:
Ratakan tanah bergelombang
Timbunlah tanah berlubang
Menjadi siap dibangun
Di atas dasar iman

Ratakan tanah bergelombang
Timbunlah tanah berlubang
Menjadi siap dibangun
Di atas dasar iman

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:

where there is hatred let me sow peace,

where there is injury let me sow pardon,

where there is doubt let me sow faith,

where there is despair let me give hope,

where there is darkness let me give light,

where there is sadness let me give joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not try to be comforted but to comfort,

not try to be understood but to understand,

not try to be loved but to love.

Because it is in giving that we receive,

it is in forgiving that we are forgiven,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

 

Tuhan, jadikanlah aku pembawa damai,

Bila terjadi kebencian, jadikanlah aku pembawa damai,

Bila terjadi penghinaan, jadikanlah aku pembawa pengampunan,

Bila terjadi perselisihan, jadikanlah aku pembawa kerukunan,

Bila terjadi kebimbangan, jadikanlah aku pembawa kepastian,

Bila terjadi kesesatan, jadikanlah aku pembawa kebenaran,

Bila terjadi kesedihan, jadikanlah aku sumber kegembiraan,

Bila terjadi kegelapan, jadikanlah aku pembawa terang,

Tuhan semoga aku ingin

menghibur dari pada dihibur,

memahami dari pada dipahami,

mencintai dari pada dicintai,

sebab dengan memberi aku menerima,

dengan mengampuni aku mengampuni,

dengan mati suci aku bangkit lagi untuk hidup selama-lamanya

 

 

The Prayer of Saint Francis is a Christian prayer for Peace widely attributed to the 13th century saint Francis of Assisi, although the prayer in its present form cannot be traced back further than 1912, when it was printed in France in French, in a small spiritual magazine called La Clochette (The Little Bell), as an anonymous prayer, as demonstrated by Dr Christian Renoux in 2001.

St. Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556)

 

Take, Lord, all my liberty

Receive my memory, my understanding,and my whole will

Whatever I have and possess,You have given me

to You I restore it wholly,

and to Your will I utterly surrender it for my direction

Give me the love of You only,with Your grace, and I am rich enough

nor do I ask anything besides

 

Ambillah Tuhan dan terimalah seluruh kemerdekaanku

ingatanku, pikiranku dan segenap kehendakku

segala kepunyaan dan milikku Engkaulah yang memberikan

pada-Mu Tuhan kukembalikan.

Semuanya milik-Mu, pergunakan sekehendak-Mu.

Berilah aku cinta dan rahmat-Mu,

cukup itu bagiku.

 

Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam

(For the greater glory of God)

 

| Lagi bongkar2 file lama, dan nemu doa ini di halaman persembahan skripsi - The First Point is to bring to memory the benefits received, of Creation, Redemption, and particular gifts, pondering with much feeling how much God our Lord has done for me, and how much He has given me of what He has; and then the same Lord desires to give me Himself as much as He can, according to His Divine design. And with this to reflect, within myself, considering with much reason and justice what I ought on my part to offer and give to His Divine Majesty, namely all things I possess and myself with them |

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;

old things have passed away;

behold, all things have become new

(II Corinthians 5:17 – NKJV)

 

From Victory Over the Darkness, by Dr. Neil Anderson

 

I am accepted...

I am God's child ~ John 1:12

As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ ~ John 15:15

I have been justified ~ Romans 5:1

I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit ~ 1 Corin. 6:17

I have been bought with a price, and I belong to God ~ 1 Corin. 6:19-20

I am a member of Christ's body ~ 1 Corin. 12:27

I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child ~ Ephesians 1:3-8

I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins ~ Colossians 1:13-14

I am complete in Christ ~ Colossians 2:9-10

I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ ~ Hebrews 4:14-16

 

I am secure...

I am free from condemnation ~ Romans 8:1-2

I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances ~ Romans 8:28

I am free from any condemnation brought against me, and I cannot be separated from the love of God ~ Romans 8:31-39

I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God ~ 2 Corin. 1:21-22

I am hidden with Christ in God ~ Colossians 3:1-4

I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me ~ Philippians 1:6

I am a citizen of Heaven ~ Philippians 3:20

I have not been given the spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind ~ 2 Timothy 1:7

I am born of God, and the evil one cannot touch me ~ 1 John 5:18

 

I am significant...

I am the branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life ~ John 15:5

I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit ~ John 15:16

I am God's temple ~ 1 Corin. 3:16

I am a minister of reconciliation for God ~ 2 Corin.5:17-21

I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm ~ Ephesians 2:6

I am God's workmanship ~ Ephesians 2:10

I may approach God with freedom and confidence ~ Ephesians 3:12