THE BONDING BY BEN WITHERINGTON

Someone on a mailing list that I subscribe to sent this poem. I think that it is fitting for the season.

THE BONDING
A cold and listless season,
And full of cheerless cheer,
When hopes are raised and dashed again
And joy dissolves in tears.

The search for endless family
The search for one true Friend
Leaves questers tired, disconsolate
With questions without end.

Best find some potent pleasure quick
Some superficial thrill
Than search for everlasting love
When none can fill that bill.

So hide yourselves in shopping
And eating ‘til you burst,
Use endless entertainment
As shelter from the worst.

And hope at least for truce on earth,
Though warlords rattle swords
As if to kill could solve our ills
We seize our ‘just’ rewards.

Mistake some rest for lasting peace
And calm for ‘all is well’
And absence of activity
As year end’s victory bell.

But what if Advent is no quest
Despite the wise men’s star
What if Advent isn’t reached
By driving from afar?

What if Good News comes to us
From well beyond our reach?
What if love and peace on earth
Are more than things we preach?



What if a restless peace
Is what He did intend
Until we open up our lives
And let the stranger in?

What if a peaceless rest
Is not the Christmas hope
What if nothing we could do
Helps us truly cope?

What if there is a bonding
With one who rules above
Who came to us in beggar’s rags
And brought the gift of love?

The God shaped hole in every heart
Is healed by just one source
When Jesus comes to claim his own
Who are without recourse.

So give up endless seeking
Surrender is required
The one who is the Lord of all
Cannot be bought or hired,

He’s not conjured into life
By pomp and circumstance
By Yuletide carols boldly sung
By fun or drunken trance.

He comes unbidden, unawares
Fills crevices of souls
He comes on his own timely terms
And makes the sinner whole.

‘We shall be restless’ said the saint
‘Until we rest in thee’
And find that we have been reborn,
Our own nativity.

How silently, how silently
The precious truth is given
And God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of his heaven.


by Ben Witherington

ONLY IN SINGAPORE #3: MOUTH RESTAURANT

This restaurant is located in Chinatown Point. I've never eaten there; it might be delicious. However, I do find the name peculiar.

This photo was taken with my Treo 680.

ONLY IN SINGAPORE #2: STAR WARS GRAFFITI

This is a piece of graffiti that I found on a sidewalk in downtown Singapore along Middle Road. I don't know the story behind it, but it has been there for at least two years. Everytime I passed in on the way to the library, I said to myself, "I should blog this." I'm not sure why some rabid fanboy would go to all of the trouble of spray painting this storm trooper on the ground. They must be dedicated their cause- whatever that may be- because vandalism is punishable by caning in Singapore.

Photo taken with my Treo 680.

ONLY IN SINGAPORE #1: WHO YOU GONNA CALL!

A friend and I were walking around Singapore one night and we found this little place called "Ghostbuster." They had religious idol statues and the sign on the window said that they specialized in exocisms and removing spirits.

Photo taken with my Treo 680.

JOHN PIPER ON MONEY

Link

Lavish Giving, Loving Guests, Living Christ

CHUCKTATERSHIP

Here's a t-shirt that reads, "Contrary to popular belief, America isn't a democracy, it it is a Chucktatership. Too bad it costs almost forty dollars.

When I was still in school, I used to watch Chuck Norris's show Walker, Texas Ranger with my grandmother. I knew the show was corny, and I would go back to school and try to make humorous remarks about the show, but not many people we into it. Now, apparently, Chuck Norris is a real political powerhouse. I can't believe that presidential contender Mike Huckabee made an honest-to-goodness political commercial featuring this guy.

SINGAPORE HALF MARATHON

I've been training since June, and last weekend I was able to run the Singapore half marathon. I was able to finish the 21 kilometer run in 2 hours and 26 minutes. I finished in 3,285th place and there were approximately 3,890 people that I left in the dust. I averaged 11 minute 28 second miles.
Link
Runpix.com Finisher

ELFED

My sister has too much time on her hands. She made this and sent me the link.
Link
My Family- Elfed