Live simply

Live simply is not quite the same as simply live, isn't it?

Recently, I tweeted this statement and it kind of garnered quite some responses... so I thought perhaps it is good that I explain what I was trying to bring across.

There is a huge difference between 'live simply' and 'simply live'. I was not as much as thinking of it grammatically but more of it's implications.

Let me try to explain myself.

To live simply simply means to live humbly and to live within our means. This living humbly is relative and very often it is the misunderstanding of this that creates a lot of troubles in life i.e., jealousy, strife... just to name a few. For a fresh graduate, to live within one's means means you rent a room, take public transport to work or perhaps drive a small, second-hand car, don't get into credit card debt, try not to eat out all the time, and basically live within your RM2000 a month. That is the standard for a fresh grad. But for those who have been working for quite some time, say 20 years or so, living within one's means means having your own house, paid up your car, no credit-card debts, have some savings, able to bless others, can afford a nice dinner every now and then, and a few other perks perhaps. For a person who has reached such a level, he has the right to enjoy the fruits of his labor. It is therefore unfair and not right for the fresh grad to complain or judge that such person is living lavishly. Just because we cannot afford a bigger television, it does not mean our friends should not have it either.

We ought to learn to be contented and be happy with what we have and not to be upset with what we do not have or what others have. Learn to live simply. Remember, material wealth and possessions can never bring joy to our lives. They only make life easier and more convenient.

On the other hand, simply live is a totally different story altogether. Simply live implies a life that is reckless, without plans and accountability, without respect and without submission to authority.

It is a life that lives one day at a time. This is not wise. We may live to regret a life like that. A reckless life is a life without boundaries, what looks like freedom is actually anarchy. Without respect and submission to authority, such life leads to nowhere but destruction.

Learning to live simply is learning to live within God's governance of authority and covering. We will find ourselves living in joy and contentment when we submit to His ways.

I want to exhort all of us to learn to live life in such a manner. Living simply is not being a simpleton but living within the blue-print of His plans for us in total submission.

Therefore, live simply and don't simply live.

Be blessed and have a great day,

Kev

P/S:This article is from Ps. Kevin Loo, founder and Senior Pastor of KL City Harvest Church.

06 City Harvest Church - Out Of My Hands

Out of Your hands
Into my heart
You give it all for me
Love that is real
My emptiness filled
That's when I first believe
Out of Your hands
Into my heart
You put Your songs in me
Rivers will flow
Healing me whole
That's when my song will sing
My heart can never comprehend
Love crucified the Man
Was open hands were nailed for me
And now I live each moment serving only You
Jesus my Lord
Out of my hand
Back to your heart
I give my all to Thee
Words aren't enough
For me to start
To say what You meant to me
I surrender to your love
I surrender to your love
I surrender to your love
I surrender to your love

Learning From the Microsoft Man

Bill Gates recently gave a speech at a High School about 11 things they did not and will not learn in school.

He talks about how feel-good, politically correct teachings created a generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept set them up for failure in the real world.

The Word of Wisdom of Bill Gates:


Rule 1 : Life is not fair - get used to it!

Rule 2 : The world doesn't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

Rule 3 : You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.

Rule 4 : If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss

Rule 5 : Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity.

Rule 6 : If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault , so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

Rule 7 : Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were.. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

Rule 8 : Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

Rule 9 : Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time.

Rule 10 : Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

Rule 11 : Be nice to nerds. Chances are you' ll end up working for one.