Posted: 27 Aug 2010 02:25 PM PDT

Originally published August 27, 2010 at midnight, updated August 27, 2010 at midnight

By Raymond Smith

Who can describe the glory of God? Some people have had a near-death experience in which they saw a brilliant light and a person whom they thought was Jesus, but they had trouble communicating their experience because they could not find the words. I have never had such an experience, but the Bible gives us a good description within the limitations of our language.

First of all, glory is described in the dictionary as majesty, resplendent beauty and magnificence. The Hebrew word most commonly used for God's glory is splendor, but other words are excellency and honor.

We recently viewed a DVD on Ansel Adams the naturalist photographer. In young adulthood, he made a trip to Yosemite and for the rest of his life he was consumed with capturing on film the beauty, wonder and glory of that area. If we should somehow be inspired with the glory of God, it would possess us the rest of our lives to worship and acknowledge His glory. We would no doubt have a daily awareness of the wonder and beauty of His creation. Can you imagine the joy and confidence that would give you? Psalm 111:2, "Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all that delight in them." Psalm 8:1, " O Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set Your glory above the heavens."

All great kings of history maintained a certain glory or majesty, so they would have the respect of the people. God is the supreme authority. He said, "I am the Lord, that is my name! I will not share my glory with another." God's glory was so overwhelming in one case that the priests could not stand to minister in the temple (I Kings 8: 11) When the apostle John saw the risen Jesus in all his glory (Revelation 1:17), he "fell at his feet as though dead." God has given man a smidgen of His glory, for man was created in God's image, but without the awesome visible effects that alone are God's. Those visible effects were smoke, fire, cloud, light and a rainbow. Alas, all too often, man does not live up to the glory given him by his Maker. Man's glory is passing away and will go with him to the grave, but God's glory is forever.

We cannot add to His glory, for He is already perfectly and infinitely glorious. Rather, for us to glorify God means for us to ascribe the glory that is due His name in worship. To live lives that reflect His glory. To bear fruit as in John 15:8: "Herein is my father glorified that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples." It is for us to show the world the glory of this all-powerful sovereign To catch a glimpse of the glory of God is to dedicate ourselves happily to His purposes.

Glory be to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Raymond F. Smith is a deacon at Fellowship Bible Church in Victoria and President of Strong Families of Victoria.

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article: "Peace Envoy" Blair Gets an Easy Ride in the Independent.

Kitchen philosophy

Posted: 27 Aug 2010 05:26 PM PDT

A childhood passion for cooking has led Alvin Mong to be a kitchen specialist. However, his thoroughly modern and sleek kitchens are a world apart from his mum's.

Alvin Mong grew up in Muar, Johor and began ruling the family kitchen from the age of 12.

"I watched my mother cook and learnt from her. At first, I had to do the boring tasks of peeling onions and removing roots from taugeh," he recalls.

"I could cook rice by age 14 ,and simple dishes like fried eggs, fried rice and Hokkien mee. My instant noodles were the tastiest in Muar as I was very good at adding extra condiments and ingredients!"

Mong was so adept that his family eventually surrendered the kitchen to him.

"I was in charge and ordered my two brothers, as well as my sister and mother around. I even assigned them jobs to do as I decided on the delicious food to put on the table every evening. Mum and I made sure my siblings had food in their Tupperware for lunch, and she and I would cook after school," he reminisces.

The family kitchen was the old-fashioned type but their microwave oven produced wonders. Design-wise, although he could live with it, the kitchen didn't sit that well with Mong.

"Back then, I already liked sleek designs but I didn't know better as growing up in the family kitchen, I just accepted whatever was available. I come from an average family with a large, functional family kitchen, and all I wanted to do was be an interior designer and kitchen specialist!" he shrugs.

After graduating from Limkokwing University, Mong went to Manchester Metropolitan University in UK for his Interior Architecture degree. That was when his passion for well-constructed kitchens came to the fore.

"I was not rolling in cash so I cooked most of the time. Friends dropping by enjoyed my dishes. Soon these friends brought friends who offered to pay £5 or they brought their own ingredients, and I would cook for them. That was how I realised from first-hand experience how a kitchen should function, with easy access to plates, stove, cutlery and utensils.

"I stayed in a flat with a nice, modern kitchen, so I began to appreciate how important it was. A family spends more time in the kitchen and living room than the bedroom and dining hall!" he points out.

In 2004, Mong returned home and began his own business, A2Z Kitchens.

"Actually, I design the whole house, too, but my focus is on kitchens," he explains. "I make full use of available space as most clients don't have 93sq m kitchens so space is a premium. By clever use of storage, shelves, cabinets, neutral colours and mirrors, a kitchen can appear larger and more inviting to work in. My motto is: Everything in place and a place for everything!"

He cites some space-saving examples: "Sometimes owners hack walls down and extend the kitchen to the fullest to the back or fence. Often they end up with a column which cannot be removed or existing pillars. I am very good at hiding them as I turn them into cabinets or incorporate them into breakfast islands or work tables.

"My designer kitchens are modern and stylish as this is my style and personal preference. I am not into rustic cottage or farm kitchens nor Victoriana kitsch kitchens filled with embroidered doilies, preserved flowers, painted cabinets and frilly curtains! However, if the rest of your home is already designed this way — and there's nothing wrong with this concept — I can create a flowery, kitschy kitchen to match your existing décor," he says.

Mong favours solid acrylics, laminated woods and glass for sturdy kitchens with minimum fuss and plenty of appeal.

"I like kitchens to be black and white with brown accents or red, should the owner be more daring. Each kitchen is different so I consult with the owner to get his or her requirements. I need to know if it will be extensively used for a big family or one with kids which must be accident-proof.

"Even the height of overhead cupboards must be considered. Once I had a couple who cooks but the husband was much taller with longer arms, so I almost had to install two kitchens in one with two cooking areas! Another couple hates cooking and eats out mostly but insisted on a RM90,000 kitchen for show! A dry and wet kitchen is ideal but one well built kitchen of 9.3sq m-19sq m is sufficient," he explains.

Consultancy fee is free.

"After noting the existing kitchen and home décor, I usually take two days to create a made-to-measure kitchen that perfectly fits your home. After amendments and approval, it takes at least three days to install, depending on the complexity."

o A2Z Kitchen, Tel: (03) 7876 2155.

Cougars Motivated to Get Back to Postseason

Posted: 27 Aug 2010 03:38 PM PDT

The philosophy at Stuarts Draft can be summed up in three simple statements.

"Play hard. Play fast. And play as a team," explains head coach Rod Bowers.

That approach has earned the Cougars "three" straight trips to the playoffs. According to Bowers, that success is motivation for this year's team.

"They have shoes to fill. We tell the kids to play for the ones who came before them, and to set the example for the ones to come," he says. "So I think it's a tradition that they want to continue."

Still, Bowers isn't one for expectations. He says the Cougars will go as far as they want to go.

"The sky's the limit for them. They're a talented group of young people. We have a chance to be state champs, and we have a chance to be really bad," Bowers says. "So it's going to be up to the kids. How well they perform, and how well they come together."

Philosophy

Saturday, August 28, 2010

“Philosophy Lite: Catch a glimpse of God's glory” plus 2 more

“Philosophy Lite: Catch a glimpse of God's glory” plus 2 more

No comments:

Post a Comment

Popular Posts