Kim & I had a 10-day Christmas break in Hong Kong. We arrived back in London early yesterday morning, but for the whole day I was like a zombie. It is so unfair that jet-lag appears to have a bigger affect on older folks. I fought to stay awake, trying to get my body clock back to Greenwich Mean Time, 8 hours behind Hong Kong. By 6 pm my brain went blank. I had to keep standing up to avoid falling asleep. The Nativity Story DVD had zero effect. It was a good job that Bruce Almighty came on at 8pm. It kept me awake till 10pm. Bedtime finally arrived. Last night, the bed and the pillow were extra heavenly!
Despite of this, the Hong Kong Trip was great. Seeing our two sons Ben & Nic and their WAG (a premier footballer's term for wife & girlfriend) Suki & Wai Wa is always a joy. Nic treated Kim & I to a night in the super-luxurious Venetian Hotel in Macau. All the furnishings were gold-plated. Even the toilets in the public areas out-shone some of our top London hotel rooms. The Macau trip was an eye-opener in itself. Five-Star hotels combined with casinos were growing like mush-room. Cash-rich farmers (turned property developers) from mainland China are feeding the growth in a big way. Yet behind the glittering fascia I discern a soul-less interior. It is an illusion. It is a screen-saver!
During our stay in Hong Kong I had an opportunity to meet Mr. Cheng Hon-Kwan for breakfast at the swanky Hong Kong Club. Mr. Cheng, who turned 80 recently, put Hong Kong on the map of Structural Engineering. He was mentored by a missionary when young. He shared about the grace of God and how God blessed him with an abundant life and a good family. At 80 years old, he is still actively serving in a number of Government boards and charities. By coincidence, on the flight back, I watched the interview of two golfing giants Gary Player and Jack Nicholas, both in their twilight years. Between them they have won over 300 Championships, over 30 of which were Majors. Besides enjoying lustrous careers, they both have very blessed families. Gary freely thanked God for loaning him his golfing talents!
People of God are people of praise & thanksgiving. Like the psalmist, "I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High......" [Ps 9:1-10 NIV].
God rightly deserves our thanksgiving. God reminded the Israelites to do it twice a day, one in the morning and the other at twilight. "This is what you are to offer on the altar regularly each day: two lambs a year old. Offer one in the morning and the other at twilight......a pleasing aroma, an offering made to the LORD by fire.....They will know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them....."[Exod 29:38-46 NIV].
The three senior gentlemen referred to above have one thing in common. Throughout their lives, they follow God whole-heartedly. Their devotion and gratitude are from the heart. "A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God." [Rom 2:25-29 NIV]
"A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but in his heart he harbors deceit. Though his speech is charming, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart. His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly."
[Prov 26:24-26 NIV] May the Lord keep deceit from our lips; may He guard our hearts against wickedness.
Despite of this, the Hong Kong Trip was great. Seeing our two sons Ben & Nic and their WAG (a premier footballer's term for wife & girlfriend) Suki & Wai Wa is always a joy. Nic treated Kim & I to a night in the super-luxurious Venetian Hotel in Macau. All the furnishings were gold-plated. Even the toilets in the public areas out-shone some of our top London hotel rooms. The Macau trip was an eye-opener in itself. Five-Star hotels combined with casinos were growing like mush-room. Cash-rich farmers (turned property developers) from mainland China are feeding the growth in a big way. Yet behind the glittering fascia I discern a soul-less interior. It is an illusion. It is a screen-saver!
During our stay in Hong Kong I had an opportunity to meet Mr. Cheng Hon-Kwan for breakfast at the swanky Hong Kong Club. Mr. Cheng, who turned 80 recently, put Hong Kong on the map of Structural Engineering. He was mentored by a missionary when young. He shared about the grace of God and how God blessed him with an abundant life and a good family. At 80 years old, he is still actively serving in a number of Government boards and charities. By coincidence, on the flight back, I watched the interview of two golfing giants Gary Player and Jack Nicholas, both in their twilight years. Between them they have won over 300 Championships, over 30 of which were Majors. Besides enjoying lustrous careers, they both have very blessed families. Gary freely thanked God for loaning him his golfing talents!
People of God are people of praise & thanksgiving. Like the psalmist, "I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High......" [Ps 9:1-10 NIV].
God rightly deserves our thanksgiving. God reminded the Israelites to do it twice a day, one in the morning and the other at twilight. "This is what you are to offer on the altar regularly each day: two lambs a year old. Offer one in the morning and the other at twilight......a pleasing aroma, an offering made to the LORD by fire.....They will know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them....."[Exod 29:38-46 NIV].
The three senior gentlemen referred to above have one thing in common. Throughout their lives, they follow God whole-heartedly. Their devotion and gratitude are from the heart. "A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God." [Rom 2:25-29 NIV]
"A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but in his heart he harbors deceit. Though his speech is charming, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart. His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly."
[Prov 26:24-26 NIV] May the Lord keep deceit from our lips; may He guard our hearts against wickedness.
Amen.
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