The Lent Season is here...

I was browsing for an inspirational Lent Season Quote to post to my shoutout and found this beautiful message written by Bishop Iker from Diocese of Ports Worth. I think it would be nice to share it all with you. Have a Blessed Lent Season.

For Reflection: Bishop Iker’s Lenten Message

This message by Bishop Iker, of the Diocese of Fort Worth is posted on the diocesan website. Good questions for examining our hearts and helping us repent and seek true reconciliation with and in and through Christ this Lent.

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http://www.fwepiscopal.org/bishop/bishop.html

A time for reconciliation

The purpose of Lent and the mission of the Church are one and the same: reconciliation. Lent is a season of reconciliation. The Church’s mission is a ministry of reconciliation. The appeal of Lent and the message of the Gospel are the same: “We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (II Cor. 5:20)

But, of course, there is a catch here, isn’t there? Unless we are reconciled to one another, we cannot be truly reconciled to God. Unless we are forgiving, we cannot be forgiven. Jesus taught us to pray “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” For most of us, this is a hard lesson to learn, and we are continually challenged to put it into practice.

One of the most striking prayers in the Prayer Book’s service for marriage is this one, offered for the newly married couple: “Make their life together a sign of Christ’s love to this sinful and broken world, that unity may overcome estrangement, forgiveness heal guilt, and joy conquer despair.” (BCP, page 429) That’s not a bad summary of the ministry of reconciliation that God has given to every one of us. We are to be reconcilers and healers in a world full of divisions, enmity and strife. We are to work for unity and harmony and peace in a world (and in a Church!) where there is so much estrangement, disharmony and brokenness.

Ultimately, our hope for reconciliation is in Jesus Christ alone, for He is the one who gives healing to brokenness and enables us to be forgiving when hurt and offended. Unity and peace among us are the works of the Holy Spirit, not something we accomplish. We are free to accept these gifts or to reject them. We are free to cooperate with Him or to work against Him. Reconciliation cannot be forced upon us; it can only be received as a gift.

Where does Lent find you this year? Alienated and at odds with others; full of strife and animosity; angry, resentful and hurt? Or working on reconciliation & moving towards forgiveness, healing and peace?

St. Paul’s words to the Church in Ephesus are as important for us today as when he first wrote them: “He is our peace … He has broken down the dividing walls of hostility … so making peace … that He might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end.” (Ephesians 2:14-16)

May this Lent bring us true reconciliation, in our relationship with God and in our relationships with one another.

Faithfully in Christ,

The Rt. Rev. Jack Leo Iker

Bishop of Fort Worth

source: http://lent.classicalanglican.net

Love Like This - Natasha Bedingfield

Here's a song from Natasha Bedingfield...it's really suitable for this month's theme~~ no need to tell what it is lah....hehehehe...anyway, personally I think her song is light, somewhat catchy and her cheerful tunes really feels like breathing fresh air...if you listen to this one, you know what I mean. =)

Oh whoa..(Oh whoa..)
Never find a love like this(x2)

Well we go back so far,
swingin in your back yard,
all the things that we used to do
We were cool back in high school
ooh I really liked you,
must have been your attitude.

That’s why you keep on runnin
in and out of my mind.
As the years they’ll roll by,
Baby, now I know why
I keep comin back to you.

You’re the only one that knows me,
love it when you hold me,
never find a love like this.
Let me hear you say,
now I’ll never be lonely,
look at what you’ve shown me,
never find a love like this

Well this life tries to keep us apart
you keep callin me back to your heart.
Let me hear you say,
I'm so glad you found me,
wrap your world around me,
never find a love like this.

All the guys tried to take me,
you’re the one who saved me,
I feel like I owe you my life.
And as strange as it may seem,
I’ll go if you take me
I'm willing to sacrifice.

That’s why you keep on runnin
in and out of my mind.
As the years, they’ll roll by,
it’s not hard to know why
I keep comin back to you.

You’re the only one that knows me,
love it when you hold me,
never find a love like this.

Let me hear you say,
now I’ll never be lonely,
look at what you’ve shown me,
never find a love like this.

Cause this life tries to keep us apart,
you keep calling me back to your heart.
Let me hear you say,
I'm so glad you found me,
wrap your world around me,
never find a love like this.

May never find a love, love, love a love like this,
that still make me think about my middle school kiss.
I sit here in this chair and I wish
for you not to leave me now.
My friends they always told me
not to make you my wifey,
man they was putting you down.
And now they see we rollin,
me and you, we strollin,
they don’t wanna come around.

Let me hear you say,
you’re the only one that knows me,
love it when you hold me,
never find a love like this.
Let me hear you say,
now I’ll never be lonely,
look at what you’ve shown me,
never find a love like this.

When this life tries to keep us apart,
you keep callin me back to your heart.
Let me hear you say,
I’m so glad you found me,
wrap your world around me,
never find a love like this,

Oh whoa...(Oh whoa...) Never find a love like this…(x5)
When this life tries to keep us apart,
you keep callin me back to your heart,
Let me hear you say,
Oh whoa...(Oh whoa...) Never find a love like this.
Oh whoa...(Oh whoa...) Never find a love like this

For Sharlinie.

It has been a while since the disappearance of 5 year old Sharlinie. Her family still not losing up hope into finding their little girl, alive. Though personally, as the days went by without any positive clues of the poor girl's whereabouts, sorry to say that I fear she will ended up just like Nur Jazlin. Cruel as it seems that came from my mind, but we can't hide the truth.

Speaking about cruelty, I think it's the society that surrounds us too, adding salt to the injury that Sharlinie's family are experiencing now. Some heartless people even got the nerve to send a message to the family by telling them that Sharlinie's body was found in the dumpster at certain area, causing the pain-stricken mother and the other family members rushed to the said place and look around in the midst of the rubbish. No, little Sharlinie was not there. Imagine how heartbroken the mother is. Hey people, is this how you live? Laughing at the poor family while watching them in TV, seeing them walking in the dirty rubbish???

This is no joke...and it wasn't funny at all. My aunt said that it could be the works of some school students or teens that didn't know what to do with their spare time and their telephone credits. As a human, where is our compassion towards people who counting days, hoping that their little girl is still alive? A mother who can't sleep for fear that her missing baby might be sleeping somewhere in a strange place, in fear? Where she don't have the appetite to eat, for whenever she thinks of her baby, did she had proper food? Most importantly, is she still alive???? Even if she does...gone (God forbid), at least return her body for proper burial, so that the family can at least stop wondering where the missing girl, so that at least they can grieve and put an end to most questions.

Put yourselves in her shoes...in her family's shoes...what if Sharlinie is one of your siblings? What if Sharlinie is your sister? Your cousin? Your child? What if you are Sharlinie herself, in a strange place, with strange people and every night crying for your mom to come and rescue you??

What matters most is your support. Your simple prayer. If you can't do anything much, just a simple prayer for them. Pray that there will be no other innocent life to be taken away cruely, pray that she won't be the next Jazlin.

Love your family, your neighbours as He loves you.

For the family of Sharlinie, we pray that she will be found, safe and sound. Our prayers are with you.

The Way It Makes You Move

Here's a song that really pumps me up for the new year 2008. I just can't seem to get enough of it! =)

Christmas Atmostphere in Hilton, PJ

Above were photos taken in Hilton Hotel, Petaling Jaya during the recent World Cup Asia 07.