Jesus is the active contemplative for He knows when to be active and when to be contemplative. That is why He is never hurried or hassled. Even when He is busy, He always has time for people.  The early Church Fathers in their turn, wrestled with this tension between labor and rest, Sabbath and work, seeking God and serving humankind. They understand that without contemplation on the love of God, all actions are futile, while the fruits of contemplation must be actions of love. We hope to put various writings, articles related to the spiritual life on this page. It will also include personal reflections and scriptural meditations by different contributors.

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Excerpt from the latest book (last of the trilogy) of Lenten meditation
A New Journey with Jesus by John Chong Ser Choon (published 2011) *

Ash Wednesday

A New Journey ~ Forward to the Finale Acts 1:1-11

“He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.”Acts 1:3 (NIV)

“What glorious 40 days!”

“The curtain of the Holy of Holies, torn from top to bottom!”

“Angels. They really exist…”

“Most of all, my Lord Jesus! Alive again! Victor over death! Walking with us, talking to us — to me! What was it that John said? ‘Beheld, heard, touched!’ Yes, indeed! The Christ before us, with us, eating — just like always! Except that now He speaks of glorious things about the kingdom of God! The kingdom of God!”

Could the above be what Peter wrote, had he kept a journal? It must be very exhilarating for them. The reign of the Messiah had finally come. What next? Did they envisage eternal glory and bliss forever and ever?

How would you continue the journal? Like the disciples, we too, are looking for the kingdom of God. However, we look forward to the second coming of Christ. We are waiting for the final advent. As we start our Lenten season with the Acts of the Apostles, we embark on a familiar journey: a forty-day journey. Traditionally, Lent starts with Ash Wednesday, so called because ash was applied to the believer’s forehead in a sign of the cross. It is to visibly remind believers of human mortality (ashes to ashes, dust to dust). It also signals the start of a season of soul-searching and confession that includes prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

Lent is part of the Christian calendar, which follows the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus in a one-year time frame. We enter into2 the old, old story of Christ to renew our consciousness as Christ followers. It is really a rhythm, a rhythm of grace. We have journeyed passed Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, and now we journey into that passage of the earthly life and ministry of Christ through Lent.

As we enter Lent and move towards Resurrection Sunday, Peter and the apostles in Acts are moving on from the Resurrection. We therefore find ourselves in a dual time frame. The disciples looked forward to a future unfolding. We are meditating on a past that has happened. Nonetheless, the apostles’ experiences have been recorded to become part of God’s Word for us. The marvel is that in looking backward into the Word, we will also, like the apostles, be challenged, filled and renewed to look forward.

In essence, we are all looking in the same direction, at the same risen Saviour, directed by the same Spirit. Israel was looking for the coming of the Messiah. Jesus came and He has been with the believers since then through the Spirit. Christians are also looking to the coming of Christ. His second coming has yet to happen, but He has been with us ever since the descent of His Spirit on Pentecost. We do not know when His second coming is. But we wait for it.

Another Lenten season means another year nearer. Meditating on Acts will help us to look forward. One day, you and I, here and now, with the apostles and the witnesses there and then in Acts, and the millions of Christ-followers in between will see Him who loves us face to face. What a glorious finale to look forward to.

Prayer 
Lord Jesus,
Another season of Lent is here. As I journey into the book of Acts, I will not see you as obviously in action as on the journey to the Cross, nor will I get to hear your voice and teachings directly as in the Upper Room. But let this Lent be no less intimate.Come and renew your life again in me through your Holy Spirit. Come and stir up excitement that You will be coming again. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.

* The book is available for purchase, $16.

More about the 3 books: http://www.trinitylife.com.sg/new.html

Please email: melody@trinitylife.com.sg