Father's Day

Hi Everyone,

We celebrate Father’s Day every 3^rd Sunday of June every year. This year, it falls on 15^th June 2014.

Fathers will always be there for their children. Together with mother, he brought us up to where we are now. He knows what is best for his children. He gives advice to his children. He works hard to earn a living for the family.

He willingly fetches his children to / from the places that they want to go. For example, friend’s house, piano lessons, swimming lessons, school, meet up with friends, tuition among others, airport. We can talk to him about technology, cars, sports and politics. He listens to the music that you listen to although he still listens to the classics. He follows what you are watching on the tv. He wants to know about technology.

He disciplines his children. He can spend the time to help to you pass the exams. He is willing to sit down with you and helps you with your studies. He knows about men’s fashion. He was the one who taught me how to tie my tie. He wants us to study well and know the importance of education in our lives. He supports our decisions if it is fine with him. He can manage his finances well. He plays sports with us. 

He guides you in your life. He tells you to drive carefully. He advises you not to mix with bad company. He wants you to be a gentleman.  He tells his children to be street smart in the working world. He knows what it’s like at work. It can be tough sometimes. He knows what it is like to work hard in his career. My dad tells us that drinking and smoking are bad for our health.

We love you, Dad.

Everyday is Parents' Day.

Here are some songs about fathers:

Boyzone - Father and Son

Michael Bolton - Butterfly Kisses

Harry Chapin - Cats In The Cradle

Mother's Day

Hi Everyone,

We celebrate Mother’s Day every 2^nd Sunday of May every year. This year, it falls on 11^th May 2013. We came out from our mother’s womb when we were born. Some of us were breast fed by our mothers.

A mother will always be there for her children. Together with father, she brought us up to where we are now. She knows what is best for her children. She gives advice to her children. She can be nagging and longwinded but she will say it will be for own good and it turns out to be so. She will ask you to find a girlfriend / boyfriend prior to our marriage age. She can sacrifice her work to be a full time housewife, fetching her children to school / college / university and back, cook and takes care of the house.  She will find a good school for you to study in. She is a listener.  She works hard for her family. She can advise you on your clothing choices.

She needs to know where you are when you are not home. She will be worried when you are working late or coming back from cell group late. She is worried for our safety. She wants us to walk in brightly lit places or crowded places.

She trains the maid for those of us who have maids at home. She is there when we need help. If we are overseas, she will fly over to help you. She can help to take care of your new born baby and give you tips on looking after the baby for daughters. She will prepare fruits for us when she knows we are not getting enough of that. She makes sure we have a good breakfast every day. She is patient. My mum flew over to Melbourne for cook nice meals for me one year during my university exam period. She flew over there as well to help my sister to take care of my niece and nephew and cook for my sister’s family during her stressful period.

She encourages you and gives hope to you. She asks us to take care of our health.

We love you, Mum.

Everyday is Parents' Day.

Here are some songs for Mother's Day.

Il Divo - Mama

Spice Girls - Mama

Josh Groban - You Raise Me Up

Cheers,

Rogerkoo

The True Meaning of Easter

Hi Everyone,

What is the meaning of Easter? Does Easter means Easter eggs and bunnies? Easter unfortunately is similar to Christmas where the true meaning of Easter is not known to many. Easter is not about Easter eggs and bunnies and Christmas is not about Christmas trees and gifts. I have written articles on the true meaning of Christmas for the past few years and now it is the same for Easter.

Christians celebrate Easter to remember two significant events that changed the world. These two events are the core foundations of Christianity. These two events are the main focus of the Bible. This is the reason Christians celebrate Easter and Christmas.  

We are sinful people. All of us have sinned against God and no one of us is righteous.

Romans 3:10-11

 10 As it is written:

“There is no one righteous, not even one;
11     there is no one who understands;
    there is no one who seeks God.

Accessed on 19th April 2014: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+3&version=NIV 

We are lying to ourselves if we say we have no sin. There is no concept of small sin or big sin in Christianity thus it does not matter in Christianity whether it is a small sin such as telling lies or a big sin such as murder, rape and others. We cannot save ourselves from our sins because we are not perfect. In Romans 6:23, it says the punishment for our sins is death.

Romans 6:23

English Standard Version (ESV)

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Accessed on 19th April 2014: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans+6%3A23&version=ESV 

However, someone did come and save us from our past, present and future sins once for all. He is the only one who is perfect and has no sin. He was sent by God to die on the cross for our sins so that we can have eternal life.  He died on our behalf and this means we do not have to die for our sins.  

John 3:16

English Standard Version (ESV)

For God So Loved the World

16 “For God so loved the world,[a] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should notperish but have eternal life.

Accessed on 19th April 2014: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A16&version=ESV 

He not only died for us, but He rose again on the 3rd day and this means that He has conquered sin and death. He has freed us from the bondage of sin. As a response, we want to serve him and become more and more like Him. He is Jesus.

Christians remember Jesus' death on the cross on Good Friday, and then on the third day, that is Easter Sunday, we celebrates his victory our sin and death. His victory means we are freed from the bondage of sin. We know we are not perfect but we know that through the Holy Spirit, we have the hope of becoming more and more like Jesus. We can be better persons throughout our lives.

Christmas trees and gifts together with Easter eggs and business are man-made and meant for commercial success. We can buy Christmas presents and have a reunion or gathering with our relatives and friends but we must know the true meaning of Christmas, that is the birth of Jesus Christ. We must also know that Easter is not about chocolates but about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For Christians, we must be thankful for this wonderful gift of love from God. We remember his death and we celebrate his resurrection during Easter.

Ephesians 2:8-9

New International Version (NIV)

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Accessed on 19th April 2014: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2%3A8-9&version=NIV

Here are some very good songs that we can listen to during this Easter season:

Behold The Lamb


There Is A Fountain Filled With Blood


We Are The Reason
Although we usually sing this during Christmas, the chorus gives us the reason Jesus came to die on the cross.



Mighty is the Power of the Cross



We can sing this tomorrow:

Come On and Celebrate



Overcome



Cheers,

Roger TJ Koo