Citizen of Heaven

Higher Ed: The Next Bubble

2012-01-30T11:49:00.002+08:00

Resolutions

2012-01-01T22:29:00.000+08:00

2012: it's a new year alright. While I have not resolved to do anything yet, I happen to come across an article that caught my attention. It was entitled, Resolving to Lose More than Pounds: What theology might have to do with your New Year’s resolution.

The article was an interview of Gary Thomas who wrote the new book, "Every Body Matters", and what surprised me was his perspective on food, fitness and how we can be better stewards of our bodies in order to prepare and grow ourselves more spiritually.

The interviewer, Matthew Lee Anderson, asked what Thomas meant when he suggested that 'our efforts should not be for fitness per se, but building a "silver soul"', and Thomas pointed out that "The goal is not an athletic looking body or a magazine-worthy body", but to understand that "We keep up our bodies because our bodies carry our souls. They are what we minister out of, what we speak out of, what we travel out of, and ultimately what we pray and worship and serve out of."

Taking it to the church, Thomas said that, "If a church publicly proclaims physical fitness as a biblical value that stems from the stewardship of our bodies, if we accept the passage that 'our bodies are not our own, but we're bought with a price,' we'll start to get in shape within the church out of love for God." I thought this made so much sense! I need to remember that this body of mine is not really my own, but bought at the price of Jesus' death and ought to be used as a vessel for Christ.

In order for me to do that, I need to keep fit. :)

Speaking from his own experience, Thomas also said that "Some of my best times worshipping are when I'm out on a run. And that feeds my Sunday morning worship." I thought that was pretty awesome. I never could connect with God like that during my runs. I think I'll have to relook into the way I view my exercise, that is to not exercise just to be fit (for whatever other motives), but to exercise for God and be a good steward of this body that He has given me.

Blessed new year.

Bittersweet

2011-12-31T18:20:00.000+08:00

Today is New Year's Eve.

I've been wanting to reflect on the past year, and I told myself that I should reflect tomorrow, or in the coming week. Then I figured that I might as well do it today. I'm definitely worn out from the past few weeks, but it's now or never. Tomorrow ain't coming because there's always tomorrow.

Leaving the army is bittersweet. These two years have been an immense blessing from God, yet I couldn't wait to get out either.

Many people I've met couldn't wait to get out too. Many have expressed how these two years have been a waste of time, time that they could have used to do a million other things other than rot in camp. But I differ. I wanted 'out', but I did not look forward to ORD particularly. I've learned many things, gained many things, and more importantly, these two years have cemented my relationship with God. It's cliche, but honestly speaking, I actually had a positive NS experience.

Looking back not just over the past two years but all my twenty years, I'm thankful for God's faithfulness. 1 Corinthians 10:13 resonates greatly because indeed, He did not let me be tempted or tested beyond what I can bear, and He has always faithfully provided a way out so that I can stand up under it.

In the past, I tried to 'make it' on my own, to strive on my own, to be able to show others that I can make it, yet knowing that deep inside, I'm in fact not who I seem to be on the outside. Full of insecurities, I was afraid of what others thought of me. I measured myself by others' expectations and what others could accomplish. I tried to imitate, and I realised that I'm forever lacking, forever falling short, forever unable to meet those expectations, and I pushed myself even harder because of that.

That pride set me up like a trap for a greater fall. Shame and embarrassment sunk in whenever I fell short. It sucked. It hurt. The front that I tried to put up crumbled despite my efforts to mask my iniquities and weaknesses. Yet, when Jesus came into the picture, saying, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in your weakness.", it rocked my world.

I had my struggles. The gospel message was more 'fire and brimstone' than it was about grace and redemption. James 2:10 stuck like glue in my head, filled with condemnation and judgement. It freaked me out, especially because I have once told God to "show Himself in my life". I felt as though I was embroiled in battle, fighting for my life. But no matter how intense and how difficult that period of tug-of-war was, God always won over at the end of the day.

I moved on with a gradual acceptance of God's gift of grace and salvation (and of course, with a help of a brother in Christ). I felt free. I became a new creation. This God forgave me of my sins, accepted my iniquities, gave me hope and a future, and paved a way for me to move forward in the world that I once feared.

I had my uncertainties when I first entered the army, armed only with a wavering trust in God that He would be with me and a bunch of friends from Oldham who supported me through my struggles. I took a step-by-step approach without aims or expectations, hoping that God would prevail in times of need and difficulty. He did, but my lack of courage continued from training school through RSTA.

Entering RSTA as a trainee then was supposedly the culmination of all of my anxieties, that I would hardly survive under the Chong era. I stayed out of sight, under the radar, and away from responsibilities, for fear of punishment and 'extras'. Unfortunately, 2 Timothy 1:7 brought more self-reproach and guilt than comfort and courage, and I blamed myself for cowarding in fear.

The silver bayonet came much as a surprise and it made me feel hypocritical because I don't think I deserve it. I know my own standards and I know others who were better at the job too. i never took much pride throughout my course and I never did realise that I needed to do a good job because all I had in mind was the float through the course and graduate. I regretted that too.

To make things worse, I was nominated for the PS job. On hindsight, I came to understand that my willingness to do the job did not affect my chances of becoming a PS. Nonetheless, I struggled because I did not see myself as competent and capable of the job. I still got it anyway. It was as though I was being trained by God to become more decisive and more confident. I was being moulded.

Psalm 139:23-24 reminded me though that I was still not doing things right for God. I still feared my earthly authorities more than I feared God, and I remember not being able to stand up for what's right in exchange for my own safety. I was selfish. I remember the phrase "Great power comes with great responsibility" very well; I was not a good steward.

Things changed as the company went for course while a new era ushered in a change in style. Light began to shed, and life in RSTA brightened. I'm thankful for my boss' efforts, with due respect for the legacy that he has left behind. It, however, came also to a point when pride got the better of me, but by God's grace, things still worked out between me and my friends.

My bike accident came along and things took a turn. My physical handicap and long-term medical status meant different things to different people. Some think that I made a good plan: by the time my medical status was over, I could ORD and life for the last few months in army was a piece of cake. Some were concerned how it would affect me in the long run, that I should just downgrade my PES status and I don't have to serve my combat liabilities for the next two decades.

To be honest, it was a bit of both. When the accident occurred, I didn't know how to react. People told me different things and I was swayed by different opinions. I had different feelings at different stages. On one hand, I didn't want others to think that I'm going to have it easy till I ORD, yet on the other hand, I was seriously concerned how the tailbone injury would affect me in terms of future training, IPPT, reservist, and other activities.

I turned to God, but I was held captive by the possibility of not being able to be as active as I was before. When visiting the doctor, I didn't know what to pray for: nothing serious (but thinking that future activities might aggravate the injury) or a fracture that could impede any future form of activity.

The doctors did not diagnose it officially a tailbone fracture at first, advising one month of rest. Different factors played out, such as the PS course and close-combat training, and all of a sudden, the thought of risking my future well-being to make it through these temporal courses was stark. I wanted to be sure of my condition.

I felt like a hypocrite again, because my injury didn't seem like that big an issue on the surface. I could still walk and stand and it didn't hurt that much, except for sporadic sharp pains over prolonged sitting and lying down. I turned to God again, but common sense and much peer influence pointed me to revisit the specialist clinic. The visit laid my uncertainties to rest: I did have a tailbone fracture, and I was given three months of rest, giving me an official break all the way till I ORD.

I'm thankful that God made a way for me despite the accident. The break provided impetus for me to work extra hard in the office, to forge some new friendships and rebuild some relationships, and to possibly hand over smoothly.

Fortunately, God continued to be faithful, testing me through the new era. I once was greatly frustrated by the contrast in leadership style and the lack of direction in the company. Yet, instead of blaming others, I've come to realise my own unrealistic expectations, my lack of initiative and the opportunity to be a godly steward of this new found freedom. I've learned to take huge buckets of salt, to adapt to difficult changes and to start afresh a process of mentoring and leading the company in my capacity.

I hope it pays off, but more importantly, I pray that I have been a good steward of the time, freedom and opportunity that God has given me. Not to forget, I'm definitely thankful for the trust that my boss has placed in me.

I think my RSTA experience has been strikingly bittersweet, because I have emotionally invested into the company for the last couple of months and I don't get to see the fruit of my so-called labour when I leave. Above all, while I heave a sigh of relief that these two years are finally over, I'm hugely grateful to God for the wonderful opporunities that He has given me throughout these two years, for the tests and trials that He has allowed me to grow, and for His grace, His strength, His wisdom and His courage that He has blessed me with.

He never left me. He never foresook me. He is great. He is able. He is Lord. He is my Saviour. He is Jesus. He is God.

The Paradox of Christmas

2011-12-25T00:00:00.000+08:00

Wishing everyone a truly blessed Christmas, with not only your loved ones, but also the One who loves you: Jesus.

The Twenty-Second Time

2011-12-23T09:00:00.000+08:00

KC first introduced this song to me about 2 years back and as I was doing quiet time last night, this song popped up in my head.

The past month has been a mad rush. It was South Korea just 2 days right after I came back to HK, and while I'm back in HK once again, moving house is next on the list. There hasn't been time (where got time?) to pause and reflect on all that's been happening, to seriously ponder the works of the Lord in my life and the direction He wants me to go in the future.

I'm thankful, however, for the little moments of quiet time that You have provided, Father, along the way and over the past 2 weeks. I'm thankful for the refreshing moments with You. It's truly Psalm 23, where You made me lie down in green pastures and led me beside quiet waters. Thank You for restoring my soul and for filling my cup when I desperately needed it.

This song comes at a time when I've been seemingly burdened by the lost and the broken ones. Indeed, there's more than a twenty-first time. :)

Bittersweet: Prologue

2011-12-05T15:30:00.000+08:00

Time flies.

It's one mega rush:
from ORDing on 2nd,
to My Hope on 3rd,
to FACT Camp Committee Meeting on 4th,
to packing on 5th,
to moving from Tanjong Katong to Commonwealth on 6th,
to making final preparations for FACT Camp on 7th,
to starting FACT Camp on 8th till 11th,
and finally flying back to HK on 12th, only to be back next year after Chinese New Year.

Lord, in the midst of planning, preparing and doing, may I be still, and know that You are my God, my Lord, the only One whom I should be focusing on.

Thanksgiving: Not for beds of roses.

2011-11-28T21:30:00.001+08:00

Michelle Van Loon posted a her.meneutics article titled: Stop Turning Thanksgiving into a Facebook Like.

She quoted Rev. Dr. Craig Barnes at the end of her article about the true meaning of Thanksgiving:

Being thankful is not telling God you appreciate the fact that your life is not in shambles. If that is the basis of your gratitude, you are on slippery ground. Every day of your life you face the possibility that a blessing in your life may be taken away. But blessings are only signs of God's love. The real blessing, of course, is the love itself. Whenever we get too attached to the sign, we lose our grasp on the God who gave it to us. Churches are filled with widows who can explain this to you. We are not ultimately grateful that we are still holding our blessings. We are grateful that we are held by God even when the blessings are slipping through our fingers.

While we're called to be thankful to God for everything (Eph. 5:20; Phil. 4:6), more importantly, we're to "give thanks in ALL circumstances" (1 Thes. 5:18). In good times or bad, whether richer or poorer, in joy or sorrow, we are to give thanks to Him, "for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

God is faithful. God will provide. God will make a way. God is good. :)

You'll Come

2011-11-26T22:30:00.000+08:00

Verse 1
I have decided, I have resolved
To wait upon You Lord
My Rock and Redeemer, Shield and Reward
I'll wait upon You Lord

Pre Chorus
As surely as the sun will rise
You'll come to us
As certain as the dawn appears
(Certain as Your Word endures)

Chorus
You'll come, let Your glory fall
As You respond to us
Spirit rain, flood into our thirsty hearts again
You'll come
You'll come

Verse 2
We are not shaken, we are not moved
We wait upon You Lord
Mighty Deliverer, our Triumph and Truth
We wait upon You Lord

Bridge
Chains be broken
Lives be healed
Eyes be opened
Christ is revealed
(Oh we believe Lord)

The Broken Ones

2011-11-19T23:00:00.000+08:00

Dia Frampton from The Voice: The Broken Ones. :)

I know they've hurt you bad.
Wide, the scars you have.
Baby let me straighten out your broken bones,
All you faults to me make you more beautiful.

I can't help it,
I love the broken ones,
The ones who need the most patching up.
The ones who've
Never been loved,
Never been loved,
Never been loved.

And O maybe I see a part of me in them.
The missing piece always trying to fit in.
The shattered heart,
Hungry for a home.
No you're not alone,
I love the broken ones.

You don't have to drive
With your headlights off.
It's a pocketknife,
Not a gift from God.
Don't you learn of love from the love they kept.
I will be your anchor slowly,
Step by step.

I can't help it,
I love the broken ones,
The ones who need the most patching up.
The ones who've
Never been loved,
Never been loved,
Never been loved.

And O maybe I see a part of me in them.
The missing piece always trying to fit in.
The shattered heart,
Hungry for a home.
No you're not alone,
I love the broken ones.

Maybe we can rip off the bandage.
Maybe you will see it for what it is.
Maybe we can burn this building,
Holding you in.

I can't help it,
I love the broken ones,
The ones who need the most patching up.
The ones who've
Never been loved,
Never been loved,
Never been loved.

And O maybe I see a part of me in them.
The missing piece always trying to fit in.
The shattered heart,
Hungry for a home.
No your not alone,

I love the broken ones.
I love the broken ones.
I love the broken ones.
I love the broken ones.

In Christ

2011-11-14T21:00:00.000+08:00

Over the past two weeks, my faith has been greatly challenged.

For all the things that have happened, I'm thankful for all the opportunities to grow in my faith, to grow in my trust in God, to grow in becoming the man God desires and created me to be.

On hindsight, God's plan is seamless and wonderful, flawless and beautiful. :)

With His help, I gleaned many insights about my faith and my identity, through the happenings in camp, through my almost regular diarrhea episodes, through FACT Camp, and more critically, through my painful past.

Psalm 139:23-24 has never impacted as much as it does now:

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

You desire good for me.
You desire an abundant life for me.
You desire so much for me, why don't I embrace You and all of Your plan?

I want to love You.
I want to trust You.
I want to believe You; help me overcome my unbelief!

P.S. grant us journey mercies as we head to Bandung tomorrow!

Renewing of the Mind

2011-10-29T21:01:00.003+08:00

"A real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." - Marcel Proust

Waiting and Hoping

2011-10-29T00:26:00.001+08:00

As part of the Advent series that we're doing at cell group, today Sheila facilitated "Waiting and Hoping" with reference to the birth of John the Baptist and the wait of his elderly parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth.

When we were discussing about discouraging situations, I thought of my company.

Simply looking back at the past sixteen months, I would say that the current situation is disappointing and discouraging. What pride we had in our accomplishments, in our competencies, in our punishments, in our camaraderie, in our company and unit as a whole has been all but lost.

I used to complain and make a big fuss over the management of the company, until I realised that it wouldn't change a thing. With prayers and enlightenment along the way, I decided to change my mindset a couple of weeks ago, to try something new and work on what I believe needs to be done to set things right.

I honestly thought I had moved past the disappointment and discouragement, knowing that God is in control and all things will be taken care of in His time. Yet, here I am, post-Deepavali, and facing the same disappointment and discouragement all over again. Square one.

So today's discussion got me thinking.

Even though there is this immense urge and temptation to complain about all the inefficiencies and problems that not only this company or unit but the whole organisation face, I will not and I choose not do so. It will be another waste of my time that will get me nowhere. All I can do right now is to continue doing what I need to do, not give it up, and wait upon the Lord to deliver this company.

I commit this company, this unit, this organisation and their future into Your hands, Father.

Experiencing His Love

2011-10-28T17:51:00.004+08:00

I'm starting to experience Your love.

I thank You for my self-awareness. I wasn't even aware of my impatience and frustration in the office until I made my way back to my bunk and rested for a while. Listening to Love Came Down (If My Heart Is Overwhelmed) by Brian Johnson, I grappled with the gravity of the situation and realised that I had been filled with angst and impatience all morning because of my desire to be in control.

Thank You for granting me a peace that only You can give. Thank You for breaking me down. Thank You for being there to comfort me in my despair. Thank You for being in control. Thank You for being the amazing God You are, taking me by surprise and loving me for who I am.

"Love came down and rescued me,
Love came down and set me free,
I am Yours,
I am forever Yours."

I am forever Yours.

Wrong Worship

2011-10-25T22:30:00.000+08:00

I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever
"I sing of your love on Sundays, and this feeling is gone by Monday."

Mighty To Save
"Saviour, I don't need a saviour.
I'm busy living my life, busy living my life.
Christmas, go to church on Christmas.
And maybe Easter too, so my faith is renewed."

Breathe
"I sung this song for years, it's now a standard here.
But I still sing it, though I don't mean it.
And I just go, go through the motions.
And I fake the emotions."

I'm a Christian atheist. Are you?

Bintan: Aftermath

2011-10-21T12:50:00.000+08:00

We spent 2 days and 1 night at Bintan: fruitful and relaxing, albeit being rushed.

Indeed, thank You for blessing us with good fellowship. Although we didn't manage to 'talk' much as I wanted, we did have some great time chilling out. Thank You for the wonderful weather. There wasn't much sun on the first day (and with plenty on the second), but things still fell into place. In Your time, Dad.

Being the first trip that I've ever ventured out with only my friends, Bintan was an adventure, not in the water sports or jungle trekking sense, but it was simply something different from what we were used to: having our parents plan out everything for us. This time, it was wholly up to us, and the autonomy and freedom felt great.

Looking back, Bintan offered a world different from the hustle and bustle of Singapore. The resort made me forget everything I have back home. I was there to chill, and everything felt so good, so relaxed, so surreal. Then it struck me: I don't want to live my life like that.

The thought surprised me.

Sitting at the restaurant just by the beach where we were having a late lunch, we were just talking casually. Our conversation revealed our desires, such as to have financial stability and to live a life of comfort. It was overwhelmingly tempting. It seemed like a life I wanted, to chill and relax for the rest of my life without worries. Yet, out of the blue, my thoughts drifted, revealing a still image of some kids in some sort of slum somewhere. I simply asked myself, "What am I doing here?"

There are many people out there who are far less fortunate than we are. It felt as if I shouldn't be there. I sensed a tinge of guilt somewhere in me.

There is much to be thankful for. Praise You for the wonders of Your creation, from the beaches facing the expanse of the ocean, to the lush greenery sloping down the hills. You are amazing, Father. However, as I venture forth into the world aligned with You, help me to embrace Your love for me as Your beloved son.

Bintan

2011-10-18T23:00:00.000+08:00

I take this as a break, or at least, I could use one. I won't consider myself to be under extreme stress to require a break, but it will be nice to be away from camp for a while.

I no longer find myself yearning for this break desperately like two weeks ago, but I would like to engage my friends on a deeper level. Though we started with 7, I'm appreciative of the fact that we're left with 3.

Dad, use me to shine your light!

The Ministry of Apprenticeship

2011-10-18T15:00:00.000+08:00

Taken from Out of Ur, October 7 2011, Andy Stanley at Catalyst 2011.

1. "Our job is to look behind us and pour our lives into a few selected people.”

2. “Your responsibility is to empty your cup. It is not your responsibility to fill someone else’s cup.”
“If you are one step ahead of anyone, you have something to offer to someone who is one step behind you.”

3. “Replace yourself.”

Food for thought.

Real Steel

2011-10-14T17:36:00.000+08:00

I pretty much enjoyed Real Steel when I watched it on Wednesday night with my friends during a night's out.

It didn't have suspense. It didn't have the WOW factor. It wasn't like Transformers. It didn't have much of a realistic setting. What Real Steel did, though, was paint a father-son bonding so beautifully, in a world where fathers have become passive, withdrawn, and allow the family take care of itself.

Like 11-year-old Max played by Dakota Goyo, every son would want their father to fight for them, to be that role model in their lives who could say, "Yes, son, you have want it takes. You've got it."

Following an almost predictable story line that hardly surprised me (the usual sour-relationship-turned-awesome story), Real Steel shined only because of the wonderful chemistry between Goyo and Hugh Jackman (uh, the Wolverine). The other parts of the movie didn't make up for the so-called futuristic setting where humans enjoying robot boxing, with hardly anything exciting to add to the 2020-era, except for lots of wind turbines across vast fields and huge stadiums that catered to the masses' appetite for robot boxing like some sort of concert.

(On a side note, I thought the consoles used to control the robots were neat.)

Goyo and Jackman rub off each other very well, bringing out the emotions of both father and son as they journeyed together to fight their way up to the robot league with their sparring bot called Atom. For humble fathers who are willing to apologise to their kids for what they'd done, just like Jackman, kudos. Our society seems to be lacking outstanding fathers who can do what they need to do: be looked up to by their kids.

Besides the clear message of father-son bonding, I found the other message equally fascinating. Atom resembled a bot that somewhat had a mind on its own, but worked best at shadowing the movements of others. The underlying idea is that no matter how good robots become, they can never replace the authenticity and flexibility of humans. What makes us different is truly our ability to feel and to love. Atom stood out, simply because he could shadow Jackman, making it the most versatile bot out there. (Credit must also be given to the materials used to make it and the programming that wired him together.)

In our pursuit of technology and convenience, could we possibly one day trade that 'human touch' for robots that could work efficiently and effectively for us?

A Transformed Life

2011-10-09T18:00:00.000+08:00

I was really touched by today's worship and sermon, even though I was on ushering duty.

My guess is that You are reminding me to draw close to You once again, to realise the importance of my light in my community.

I've been lost, restless, full of angst and living in darkness. And I didn't even know it. Thanks to You, I'm charged. Time to shine some light!

For The Good

2011-10-03T19:00:00.000+08:00

For The Good by Shane & Shane

When darkness is surrounding me
By Your Spirit, Lord help me see that
You are working all things out

Lord, I really need to hear You speak
So remind me in the waiting
You are working all things out

For the good of those who are called by You
For the good of those who are in Love with You
That's why we sing

Holy God of light
I lay down my life
Holy is the Lord
Even in the storm be glorified

We like to take the blessing from You
Shall we not take the trouble too
You are working all things out

We like to take prosperity
Shall we not take the suffering
You are working all things out

For the good of those who are called by You
For the good of those who are in Love with You
That's why we sing

Holy God of light
I lay down my life
Holy is the Lord
Even in the storm be glorified

Inspired by Romans 8:28:
And we know that all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

Amen!

Blessing in Disguise

2011-10-02T19:00:00.000+08:00

I'm part distraught, part amused by the turn of events since Friday till today.

On Friday, I was still very anxious and excited about all the events happening over this weekend, from the wedding gate-crash and the wedding ceremony, to the SUTD Open House and the Church Anniversary. My schedule was planned out neatly, with all preparations ready. I was so keen on having to meet the schedule, but God didn't think likewise.

I've been feeling tired, even before Samuel and Ivy's Wedding. Following the banquet in the evening, I didn't feel well, and got myself admitted to TTSH, all thanks to diarrhea, allergic reactions and probably the nasty combination of champagne and I-don't-know-what. Thank God for WW, Audrey, KC and Tung who were with me when I got admitted, and who stayed with me through the 3 agonising hours in TTSH under IV drip.

Back home resting today (with an MC for tomorrow), I wondered what God thought of my circumstance. Because of this saga, I find myself unable to go for the SUTD Open House, unable to take my first ride on the Circle Line Open House, unable to meet Brace for the FACT Camp Meeting, unable to go for the Church Anniversary Service and Dinner, and unable to report to camp to carry out whatever that needs to be done tomorrow.

That's a lot of things that didn't go according to plan, that is, my plan of course.

Perhaps God intended me to have some rest this weekend. And I did. I've been sleeping almost throughout the whole Sunday, besides waking up for lunch and to reply SMS.

And yes, it was definitely my fault for drinking the whole cup of champagne, thinking that I could take it. Apparently, I couldn't. My stomach is probably very weak too, because it really hurt last night. I felt like vomiting, but I couldn't. But I thank You, Lord, for this ordeal, for You reminded me to draw myself close to You, to appreciate the people around me who loves me so dearly, to trust You and Your strength and not my own.

Hail the day that Christ arose
Through the skies to worlds unknown
Glorious there He ever reigns
Object of all Heaven's praise

See Him lift His hands above
See the scars of His great love
He has conquered death and sin
Saving all who hope in Him

Hallelujah Hallelujah
The King of love is on His throne
Hallelujah Hallelujah
His grace will lead us safely home

Though He dwells beyond the stars
His redeemed are on His heart
Even now He intercedes
Jesus cares for all our needs

Hallelujah, we are redeemed
Hallelujah, Jesus is King

Burnout

2011-09-29T23:00:00.000+08:00

~~Wake me up~~ October begins when September ends.

Over the past few weeks, I've been getting increasingly restless, and seriously burnt out. I keep telling myself that it's fine, it's just 'admin work'. Since I can't do anything else, how can't I even handle simple 'admin work'? Listening to constant naggings and instructions every day certainly doesn't help to uplift me one bit.

It's already discouraging when my peers go on a tedious and tiring course that I can't go because of my medical status. I didn't choose it. It's worse when it seems like I can't do simple 'admin work' compared to their training. I just felt like shit.

I've come to realise that the reason why I enjoy my job, or spend much of my time at it even when it doesn't make sense (i.e. depriving myself of personal time), is that I find validation through my work. People acknowledge my worth through how much I can accomplish, how much I can do.

It's horrid. It's truly horrid. Subconsciously, I'm trying to prove to other people that Matthew can do it. In fact, Matthew loves the attention. Yet, when I finally get the recognition, I belittle it, pushing it away like I don't deserve it.

But I've come to recognise that I've really got nothing to prove. I don't need to care how others see me, because it's God who validates me. Galatians 1:10 says, "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." All this while, I've been seeking the approval of men, unfortunately.

Humble me, Father. Help me to understand that You are enough for me, that Your grace is sufficient for me, for Your power is made perfect in my weaknesses. And I've got nothing to lose, because all things come from you. I need to surrender everything unto You, "for dust [I am] and to dust [I] will return."

I was reading the article How to Beat Small-Group Burnout and it began with this:

Moses worked very long, hard days mediating the disputes of God's people (Exodus 18), and then Moses got some feedback from his father-in-law, Jethro: "What you are doing is not good" (Exodus 18:17).

Moses insisted that he was the only one who could serve the people and that the people liked coming to him. Basically, Moses was co-dependent on the people of God. It made him feel good. But, one detail from this account shows why it wasn't good: Moses' wife, Zipporah and his sons were living with Jethro. Moses' busyness for God had separated him from his family. This was not good.

Proverbs 16:25 confirms this. "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." It seemed right, but beneath the deceiving facade is the lack of security, validated through men, but only valid in God.

Father, help me to draw close to You once again. "Once again, I thank You. Once again, I pour out my life."

Welcoming Doubt

2011-09-17T16:54:00.001+08:00

I was reading this online article on her.meneutics about welcoming doubt to Christian education.

The author discusses the results of the Cardus Education Survey, a North American survey "examining education’s long-term effects on students now aged 23-40 who represent various kinds of schooling: Catholic, non-religious private, religious home school, conservative Protestant, and public." Surprisingly, the survey found that "students from conservative Protestant schools were least likely to be involved in politics." and "that the students from religious homeschools were the most likely to get divorced." The author says that "[g]iven that a primary focus of conservative Christianity over the past several decades has been political activism and family values, these findings are striking."

With this, the author draws our attention to the reason why people's beliefs and views swing from one extreme to another. She suggests that "[p]erhaps the deepest systemic weakness in conservative Christian education is the failure to distinguish between education and indoctrination."

Her conclusion:
"Education embraces doubt in an awkward dance that grows ever more graceful with each step in time;
indoctrination, a shrinking wallflower, shuns doubt until the ball is over and goes home unkissed."

I strongly agree.

Looking back at my journey as a Christian thus far, I believe that doubt has in fact helped me to shape my faith. My first few encounters with the concept of Christianity were met with great anger and bitterness. I couldn't take in anything. Not only did I doubt, I rejected the very God whom I believe and trust in today.

In some mysterious ways that only God Himself knows, I found myself pursuing the faith that I so aggressively opposed. I wanted to know more. I wanted to prove it wrong. And at the same time, I wanted to find out for myself whether this God is really that amazing. (And duh, obviously He is.)

Doubt challenged me. Today, doubt still challenges me. But that's pretty alright, because it's plain human to doubt, to question what truly defines me and everything that surrounds my life.

With education comes the freedom to explore the truth for ourselves. Indoctrination (or in my own terms, people enforcing ideologies and beliefs unto me) ensnares that freedom. As aptly mentioned in the article about a study by Fuller Theological Seminary, "[i]f all we’re doing is preaching at them and telling them what to believe, their faith doesn’t become their own." As such, when we lose responsibility of our faith, there is no way we will or can defend it when we face with strong opposing views.

So it's really okay to doubt. It's really okay to question. It's really okay to disagree. That gives us space and freedom to explore and internalise things for ourselves, to own our beliefs and views.

I would like to quote Lark, who commented on the article:
"Doubt is an opportunity, for the individual and for God. Addressing doubt can be, in what you might call a 'mysterious' way, an act of faith—that God can overcome your doubt instead of leaving you faithless."

Father, I believe that one day, You will make all our paths straight. I don't have to worry, even if the people around me disagree with my faith and belief. At least they have a chance to find out the truth for themselves. Though it doesn't mean that I stop reaching out actively to my family and friends, I know that You're in control and I trust that You will lead us in Your way everlasting. :)

Let's not follow indoctrination. Let's not follow dogma. Let's pursue education, because God wants to set us free.

A Step of Faith

2011-09-15T22:43:00.002+08:00

Deep inside me, I think I'm afraid of getting overly excited or passionate about things. I attribute it to fearing that these "things" are not in line with Your will for me and for the people around me. I could also fear that I do not leave myself enough space to fall back on when things fail.

And by saying this, I just don't have enough faith, to trust, to believe that You would take care of everything.

Even as I volunteer to be part of FACT Camp Committee, to serve an extra week in church, I can't help but feel something is amiss.

Restore my faith in You, Lord. I pray that the theme for the camp "Walking on Water" would speak to me as much as it should speak to the participants themselves and for the entire committee.

Contagion

2011-09-10T14:26:00.000+08:00

I caught Contagion at Jurong Point with a bunch of other specs during nights out. I've been anticipating it, maybe because of the star-studded cast, or maybe the fact that such a lethal virus can exist in reality grips me more than anything.

Contagion reminds me of similar movies like 28 Days Later (which I've not watched), I Am Legend, and The Invasion. But Contagion brands itself as a movie that is more realistic than any other concept I've ever watched, in the likes of H1N1 and SARS.

I especially liked the way Contagion was directed, to portray different perspectives of the pandemic.

Indeed, "nothing spreads like fear". Contagion draws our attention to how different people respond with the onset of an pandemic, mostly driven by fear, resorting to extreme means to survive. Contagion unveils the ugly side of human nature, or rather, the sinful nature in us. The scenes might be mild, but it underscores the self-centredness in all of us. I might be quick to judge the people who were depicted as outright selfish, but putting myself in their shoes, I dare not imagine who I would respond either.

I'm thinking:
I face the possibility of getting infected by this deadly contagious virus, which when infected, I might die within days.
I have to queue for food rations and medication at pharmacies, but others turn to violence and I might not get my share.
I seek help at the local hospitals, but the nurses are either on strike or they can't handle the influx of in-patients.
I want to know the extent of this virus and what the government is doing to help, but the government has saved themselves first before releasing the details to the public.
I just want to stay at home and be safe, but thugs break in and take all that I have.

What will I do?

Above all, where is God in all this mess?

Questions aside, Contagion is not a movie that goes for dramatic twists and stunning conspiracies. It has a positive ending like most apocalyptic films, but it focuses heavily on people and how the pandemic has affected relationships. I'm much appeased when I watched the doctor (played by Jennifer Ehle) discover a vaccine that worked on a monkey and decided to use herself as a test subject. The phrase "desperate times call for desperate measures" cannot be more apt, but I loved the principle of sacrifice behind her act.

Video: Architecture Controlling the Future of Sustainability

2011-09-05T12:04:00.001+08:00

God's Silence

2011-09-04T21:48:00.003+08:00

Excerpted from Kyria in Pestering Prayers, the story below about the Canaanite woman highlighted that God can be silent even in our darkest hour of need.

Matthew 15:21-28
21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.

22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.”

23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.”

27 “Yes, Lord,” she said, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”

28 Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Jesus seemed like a really mean God. First, He did not answer the woman. Next, when He finally replied, it was worse than what the woman hadn't heard. Ouch.

God's silence is felt in the weight of crushing grief, described by C. S. Lewis in A Grief Observed:

"Meanwhile, where is God? … When you are happy, so happy that you have no sense of needing Him, so happy that you are tempted to feel His claims upon you as an interruption, if you remember yourself and turn to Him with gratitude and praise, you will be—or so it feels—welcomed with open arms. But go to Him when your need is desperate, when all other help is vain, and what do you find? A door slammed in your face, and a sound of bolting and double bolting on the inside. After that, silence. You may as well turn away. The longer you wait, the more emphatic the silence will become. There are no lights in the windows. It might be an empty house. Was it ever inhabited? It seemed so once. And that seeming was as strong as this. What can this mean? Why is He so present a commander in our time of prosperity and so very absent a help in time of trouble?"

When God is silent, He simply wants us to persevere, to be "loaded with chutzpah—a Yiddish word that means something like:
headstrong persistence,
brazen impudence,
unyielding tenacity,
bold determination,
raw nerve, even gall."

In good times, I don't usually remember Him. At most, I litter my prayers with half-hearted thanksgiving and hasty requests. In bad times, however, when I remember Him, when I desperately call out to Him, the silence deafens me. Worse, things get out of hand, and I question the Lord who so blesses us in good times and bad.

Fortunately, God is always there. In these times, He draws me back to realise how much I need Him.

Thank You for all the testings and trials that mould me to who I am today. Thank You for blessing me with an abundant life that comes not only with good times, but also bad.

Powered by Grace: MOI

2011-09-04T20:40:00.000+08:00

Romans 7:18-24
18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Jesus sets us free from the power of sin. We're free to live for God. Telling slaves to be free is to add insult to injury. But telling a liberated slave to be free is an invitation to enjoy his new freedom and privileges.

We continue to struggle with sin. We're like a freed slave who still jumps at his master's voice. But something decisive has happened. It's no longer inevitable that we'll sin when we face temptation. We have the power to say no to temptation.

We also have a new motivation to battle sin: We're no longer under law, but under grace. This is counterintuitive. People think the law and legalism will best motivate us to strive to do what's right. But it's grace that enables us to live for God. "For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace" (Rom. 6:14, ESV et al.). Grace wins our hearts.

Change begins only when we come under grace with its message of divine pardon and welcome. Only then will we "with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb. 4:16).

—Tim Chester in You Can Change

Only when grace appears on the horizon offering forgiveness will the sunshine of the love of God melt our hearts and draw us back to him.
—Sinclair Ferguson (Scottish theologian)

The above is copyright by Men Of Integrity Magazine.

Psalm 51:10-12
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

You are our hope, You are our joy, You are our overcoming King
So we sing "Hallelujah, Jesus is alive!"

All About You

2011-09-03T11:46:00.002+08:00

You works in all sorts of wonderful and mysterious ways.

Leading up to yesterday's cell group session on Myths about Boundaries, I struggled internally about a couple of issues that made the week challenging and uncomfortable.

I struggled especially with anger and frustration towards my peers in camp. This stemmed from my own expectations of my peers and my inability to respect their boundaries. You have shown me that I should confront my peers respectively if I truly felt that things were not right. I should not take my pent-up anger on my fellow PSes, which only goes to show how little responsibility I am taking. Outwardly I seem to be taking responsibility, but inwardly I realised I'm merely shirking it and pushing it to other people.

Should I confront my peers eventually, I should do it peaceably, for You love the peacemakers.

In my anger, I pray that I do not sin.

And I remembered Psalms 139:23-24 where David wrote:
Search me, O Lord, and know my heart.
Test me, and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

You know my heart and my thoughts, for Your ways are higher than my ways, Your thoughts higher than mine. You have searched and tested me, revealing to me how terrible a person I am now. Yet, thank You, for You have drawn me back to You.

As Meiwen shared Proverbs 3:5-6 before the session, I acknowledged that I need to trust in You with all my heart and not lean not on my own understanding. Help me to rely on Your wisdom and strength, Lord!

I'm glad that Your Presence was with us last evening during our sharing and discussion, and I hope You've touched each and everyone one of us individually.

Thank You for the preparation process for this session with my sister, Audrey, who has been a great teacher and friend. Working on this session, I have learned and gained much from the thinking and synthesising process. All these revelations and wisdom come from no other, but You, who are Lord of all! Let me not forget that all of these come from You alone and You are highly exalted and worthy of all our praise!

Telecommuting

2011-09-02T11:50:00.001+08:00

Great. Even when I'm off today, I never cease to receive calls from the office. It's like I'm working from home.

Transparency

2011-08-31T22:00:00.000+08:00

It's really difficult sometimes when people around you aren't open enough. Basically, you have no idea what they're thinking. Held back by reservations, they make life rather upsetting because you need to put in every effort to read their minds, to understand what they stand for and what they want.

The same applies for groups, especially when you are new to a group, but they don't explain the different relationships and happenings that exist. That just isolates you.

Having said that, I'm guilty of that as well.

Life.

Won't Let Me Go

2011-08-27T20:00:00.000+08:00

Serving with Joy

2011-08-14T18:45:00.000+08:00

Today's my second time serving at church service as an usher ever since I started in June. It's an even more amazing experience than the first.

I feel quite honoured to be able to greet and welcome others to service. And it brings even greater joy when I can bring a smile to others' faces.

Thank You, Lord, for giving me this opportunity. :)

Restlessness

2011-08-13T19:30:00.000+08:00

The past few days have been especially excruciating, but not quite physically. Rather, it's been mentally taxing. You have a plan for me, Lord, but I haven't really quite figured out what you intend for me to find out from this period of intense restlessness within me.

Please shed some light, Lord.

The Gate Called Beautiful

2011-08-09T12:30:00.000+08:00

Acts 3

Peter Heals the Crippled Beggar

1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter Speaks to the Onlookers

11 While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.

17 “Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. 21 He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. 22 For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. 23 Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.’

24 “Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days. 25 And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’ 26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

Will we be like the Apostles, be like Jesus, to be filled with compassion?

Matthew 9:36 says,

36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

When we meet the last, the lost and the least, even if they were lying or were fake, what if just one part of their story is true? (Max Lucado: Outlive Your Life Chapter 7) Will we help them?

I hope I will.

FOP 2011: Prequel

2011-08-07T01:00:00.001+08:00

It's late, so I'll blog more about FOP tomorrow. But, at least you won't be seeing me at Suntec next year.

Settled

2011-07-27T17:45:00.000+08:00

After today's review, I've been given good news and bad news.

Good news: I don't need to receive any treatment or do anything about my injury.

Bad news: There's nothing I can do about it.

Odd enough, the doctor said he can't really tell whether I fractured my tailbone because based on one x-ray, it's insufficient to diagnose it as fracture. Due to my accident, I could perhaps have injured my bone and caused a contusion of sorts. But it could also be that I was born with a tailbone that is more defined and curved than others.

His advice: don't think about it.

Thank God that I'm alright, I'm okay. :D

(Not) Settling Down

2011-07-26T22:30:00.000+08:00

Interesting how the past two days have been.

Honestly, I haven't been quite used to the workload after too long a break/rest/holiday. Spending long hours in the office has led to throbbing headaches and tired eyes. But I'll have to adapt and get used to the 'tempo' and environment. Considering my injury, my abilities are rather limited.

Tomorrow's my scheduled medical appointment with the specialist at NUH, which will determine the outcome of my fractured tailbone.

While keeping myself in prayer, I think this experience has also allowed me to empathise with my troopers who are on long-term medical status. With this, I have the opportunity to talk to them more often these few days over meals. As I have begun to hear more from them, I believe God is trying to tell me something, or urging me to act upon these recurring issues.

My heart's been getting restless, not only over them, but also over my peers and my superiors. More often than not, I get frustrated at how things don't seem to go the way they should, and how we and others need to think differently.

However, on hindsight, instead of focusing on what others have not done or done wrongly, difficult situations should prompt us to think: what can I do to effect some sort of change within my control?

It's challenging. Given my absence, I still need to spend more time to grapple with things and zoom out to see the big picture. It's all a blur right now, with some random spots of clarity.

Fellowship with a couple of us in camp was fruitful, albeit ending late last night. I'm definitely heartened to hear their struggles and their lessons learned, because God has reminded me through them of His undeserving grace and mercy, of His unfailing provision, and of His overwhelming mystery.

With these encouraging times, I shall march on confidently, knowing that God has His plans, no matter what trying circumstances lay ahead.

Oddities of HK Part II

2011-07-22T23:40:00.000+08:00

Part II. :)

#1: HK has great innovative advertisements.

Here's a recent one that I really like.

Here's another from 2009. Bad example though.

#2: Recycling plays a integral role in people's lives.

It is successful in such a way that the government and the people have the resources and opportunity to do so. It has become a lifestyle.

However, there are arguments raised against the government for its failure to handle the trash after they have been sorted out. This delves deeper into a management issue that people seldom think of, especially when we superficially think that simply throwing our trash into specific bins is really 'green' and 'Earth-saving'.

#3: Supermarkets compare prices with wet markets.

It's pretty amazing, but just today, when I went to Wellcome with my mum, I saw this table comparing prices of vegetables, not only with other supermarkets, but even the wet markets. That is some thorough research done!

Cheers. Goodbye HK, hello Singapore. Soon back to a life in green.

Oddities of HK

2011-07-22T12:00:00.000+08:00

A week in Hong Kong is about to end, and though I shall fly back to Singapore tomorrow, here are some memorable and odd things I found out here in Hong Kong.

#1: Eating and drinking on trains
This greatly fascinated me. While the train operator, MTR (Mass Transit Railway), imposes a fine of HK$2,000 (approx. S$320) for passengers caught eating and drinking on trains, MTR also encourages people to buy food and drinks from kiosks set up within the train stations.

Inevitably, people, e.g. rushing to work in the morning, will grab a breakfast at the kiosk conveniently located outside the train, rush into the morning train however packed with people, and gobble down their breakfast without qualms, even when signs of the HK$2,000 fine and posters to advise people not to eat and drink are plastered all over the interiors of trains.

It is not uncommon to see people eating and drinking on trains. My mum and I encountered a lady who ate her bread right next to a poster that said, "Inside the paid area, enjoy the ride. When outside, enjoy your food." Funny people.

#2: Rushing into trains before passengers on board can alight.
This is a social graces issue that Singapore faces too. Mainland Chinese tend to do so, but honestly speaking, even Hong Kongers do so. Being 'kiasu' is not a Singaporean phenomenon; it's a global phenomenon.

The most common problem I face is that before I even alight, people are rushing to board the train. At least I haven't encountered any incidents of being forced not to alight at my desired station. So what are these people rushing in for? It's not like they do not have time to board the train. It's mainly because they want to get seats. Unbelievable.

#3: Keeping to the right while on escalators.
Singapore adopts a "Stand on the left" policy, but Hong Kong practises the opposite. "左行右企" means moving on the left and standing stationary on the right. And Hong Kongers do it very well.

It is probably more evident in Hong Kong because of the high density of people everywhere. Yes, everywhere. Hordes of people commuting everyday everywhere helps to accentuate this social grace, I suppose?

That's all for now. There could be a part II. :)

July in Hong Kong

2011-07-20T19:00:00.001+08:00

I woke up these few days to this:

Hong Kong is fairly sunny, with occasional rain and a lot of clouds. Even as I type, the sky seems to be brewing another cup of storm.

My place is sort of next to the river, though heavily restructured to a straight canal. It is not uncommon to see dragon boaters and canoeists paddling along the canal.

At the same time though, several highways and a railway track runs on the ground, generating an unpleasant volume of noise.

But I'm blessed just to be with my parents, regardless of the environment.

So, is this my home?

Home is where my family is, so this is my home. But it's not easy to always think so, when I only come back once every half a year. I miss interacting on my parents on a daily basis, something that causes rifts between me and my parents once in a while.

Because of this, I sometimes wonder how a normal family functions, or what it constitutes. My parents live overseas. My brother stays in the hostel apart from me, so I don't know how to interact with him. (I try to.)

Yet, this isn't really the point. No one family is normal. Every family is broken in one way or another, and well, there's only well-to-do families, and not-so-well-to-do families. It's really about what you make of your family that matters.

Time to spend more time with my brother when I go back.

给自己的信

2011-07-19T10:50:00.000+08:00

钟舒漫 Sherman Chung. 给自己的信.
(Original by Angela Aki. Tegami.)

很相信能成就大爱
很相信能炫耀自己
很贪心愿天天很多美好的派对

写封信来留住大志
写封信来提示自己
写得低是心中很多似诗的细碎

＊怀疑我当天几多岁令我写了一句不怕流泪
　怀疑我永远不会累就来十行列明十个壮举

　让我闯出新世界交出真个性
　假使想爱必会找到亲爱伴侣
　突然十年便过去方知岁月冷漠似水
　就算笔迹不会变纸张不会皱
　偏偏想笑竟会得到灰暗情绪
　默然从头读过去
　一句一句太干脆＊

一个一个已粉碎

祝福我能游历万国
怎么我还奴役自己
不甘心在天天很多错失的证据

这封信如明亮大镜
这封信能明白自己
写得低但怎么抛低理想的散去

Repeat ＊

让我闯出新世界交出真个性
假使想爱必会找到亲爱伴侣
突然十年便过去方知岁月冷漠似水
就算纸张不会皱什么都生锈
偏偏想笑只会得到灰暗情绪
默然从头读过去
一句一句太干脆
一个一个已粉碎

很相信能成就大爱
很相信能炫耀自己
很贪心愿天天很多美好的派对

Home

2011-07-17T16:00:00.001+08:00

HK!

It's odd. It's as though I don't quite fit in in the very place that I was born.

The people. The sounds. The culture. It all seems very foreign, and distant.

When in Rome, live like a Roman.
When in Singapore, live like a Singaporean.
When in Hong Kong, live like a Hong Konger?

Is Patriotism Christian?

2011-07-16T16:00:00.000+08:00

Is Patriotism Christian?
Finding the right balance
Brandon O'Brien | posted 6/28/2011

One Sunday morning in college, I attended church with an Austrian friend who hadn't been to many American churches. So after the service, I asked him what he thought of the experience.

"It was fine," he said. I could tell something was troubling him. So I pressed him a bit. Finally he said, "Why was there an American flag by the pulpit?"

Good question. Honestly, though, I hadn't even noticed. Every summer in Vacation Bible School, we pledged our allegiance to the American flag, then the Christian flag, then the Bible. Our church's second largest weekend celebration—after Christmas—was the Fourth of July. Why wouldn't there be an American flag in the sanctuary?

But for him—and I would later discover, for many Christians who are not Americans—the presence of the flag in the sanctuary signals too close a relationship between Christian faith and American patriotism. Is there a danger for Christians, who are citizens of the kingdom of heaven, in putting too much hope in, or having too much affection for, any earthly kingdom?

There are degrees of patriotism. At minimum, the word denotes love, devotion, and a commitment to protect one's country. Surely this is appropriate for all citizens. However, displaying a flag in a worship service implies that there is something inherently Christian about patriotism. And that is a disputed point.

God and Country as Allies
Evangelist Billy Sunday said, "Christianity and Patriotism are synonymous terms, and hell and traitors are synonymous." Many Christians see God's goals and the country's goals as one and the same. Therefore, it is not just a civic duty to love and support America, it is also a Christian duty.

People who hold this view take seriously Paul's teaching on the Christian's relationship to civil government in Romans 13. "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities," Paul writes, "for there is no authority except that which God has established" (v. 1). Any rebellion or dissent against the government is "rebelling against what God has instituted" (v. 2). The relationship between rulers and citizens seems clear in Romans. The ruler is "God's servant for your good" (v. 4). Thus, to be unpatriotic is to oppose God.

This extreme point of view fails to take into account the historical context of Paul's letter to the Romans and reads into it certain American assumptions. Romans 13 makes a lot of sense in American society. Here we enjoy the Constitutional separation of church and state, which means the government doesn't meddle in religious affairs. We elect our officials to serve us—to do us good. And we can easily think of these civil servants as "God's servants," especially if they are Christians themselves. In fact, we can easily think of our nation as essentially Christian.

This feeling was particularly strong in America from the early 1920s and into the Cold War, when the global threat was communism. Evangelist Billy Graham explained during the historic Los Angeles crusade that put him on the map that the only way America could oppose communism was if it first experienced spiritual revival. But the trouble with linking patriotism and faith too closely is it can lead us to believe that the essence of being a good Christian is being a good citizen. The focus of our discipleship then becomes not spiritual but national, and we begin to view the nation as God's primary way of accomplishing his goals.

Things were quite different in the Roman Empire when Paul wrote the Book of Romans. In Romans 13, Paul was referring to Roman authorities that were not friendly to Christianity. Paul had Roman citizenship, but very few people did. Those who didn't enjoyed few rights. By the beginning of the second century, the Christian community experienced explosive growth, and the Romans were concerned that this sect needed to be stopped.

Polycarp, a disciple of John, is the best-known martyr of this period. Because he was an elderly and saintly man, the soldiers who arrested him wanted to give him a way out of his death penalty. So they told him all he had to do to escape death was declare, "Caesar is lord." But Polycarp refused: "Eighty-six years I have served Christ, and he never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?" In other words, Polycarp knew that the New Testament commands that we submit to rulers, whether or not they protect our right to worship as we choose. Paul was arguing that Christians must submit to rulers, even when it costs us our life, even when those rulers oppose God's plan.

God and Country as Enemies
On the other end of the spectrum, there are those who feel that Jesus' ministry was primarily a model of resistance to the values and aspirations of the Roman Empire. Jesus' commands to "turn the other cheek" and "go the extra mile" were given in the context of Roman occupation. Soldiers denigrated the Jews by slapping them or by conscripting them to carry their loads. Those who hold to this view argue that Jesus was encouraging nonviolent resistance to the powers that be. Instead of fighting them with swords, Jesus directed his countrymen to overthrow the Romans by refusing to participate in the violence they supported. By extension, Christians are supposed to follow Jesus' example by resisting imperial tendencies, including the power, violence, and injustice on which they depend. According to this perspective, Jesus was establishing a counter-empire: the kingdom of God.

This perspective has this in its favor: it takes seriously the fact that the first Christian declaration of faith—"Jesus is Lord!"—had political overtones and consequences. As was mentioned above, to claim that Jesus, and not Caesar, was lord was an act of sedition and treason (Acts 17:7). The Romans were none too pleased by Christian language about "King" Jesus who had a "kingdom" in heaven. The Jewish leaders played into this when they wanted the Romans to put Jesus to death: "Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar" (John 19:12).

Like the other extreme, the major weakness of this perspective is that it makes too much of the nation. Instead of the nation being God's primary partner, the nation becomes God's primary enemy. Again, one's Christian faithfulness is based on his or her posture toward the nation. To be a good Christian is to work for social justice, equality, and liberty, and to resist the abuses of capitalism and nationalism. This can easily reduce the faith to only social reform.

Finding the Middle
Despite the fact that both of these positions make their case from Scripture, the Bible does not answer all of our questions about the appropriate relationship between Christian faith and patriotism. On the one hand, the Scriptures are clear that we are to honor those in authority in our country (Rom. 13). But this doesn't have as much to do with politics as with the general principle that Christians are to show honor and respect to those in positions of authority. "Give to everyone what you owe them," Paul explains. "If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor" (Rom. 13:7). This is common theme in the New Testament (Matt. 22:15-22; Mark 12:13-17; Luke 20:20-26; Titus 3:1 ; 1 Peter 2:13-14, 17).

It is also appropriate—and Christian—to want the best for your country, to want to see it prosper. When the prophet Jeremiah was writing, the Israelites had been forcibly removed from Jerusalem and taken as hostages to Babylon by enemy soldiers. Nevertheless, God encouraged the people to make themselves at home. "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters …. Increase in number there; do not decrease" (Jer. 29:5-6). Not only should they improve themselves, but they should also "seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper" (Jer. 29:7). In other words, it is the duty of the people of God to seek stability, peace, and prosperity wherever they go. This includes supporting the nation in which we live.

All of this, though, is balanced by the awareness that we are aliens and strangers in this land (James 1:1; 1 Pet. 2:11). We are commanded to honor and support our civil rulers, and we are called to seek the prosperity of the city, state, and nation in which we dwell. But we must always remember that "our citizenship is in heaven" (Phil. 3:20). Sometimes this will result in conflict with the governing authorities. Many first-century Roman civic festivals and celebrations were dedicated to Roman deities. Some even worshiped the emperor as a god. But Christians refused to venerate the emperor as divine. The first Christians refused to participate in these celebrations. As a result they gained a reputation for being atheists (because they didn't believe in the Roman gods) and potential traitors. As committed as they were to honoring the authorities, their citizenship and loyalties were not ultimately Roman.

Those of us who live in America should certainly be grateful. David Gushee has pointed out that because gratitude is an important Christian quality, we do well to show our thankfulness to God for the opportunity to live in a free and prosperous nation. But we have to be careful not to give full and unqualified allegiance to anyone but Jesus Christ. The Jewish officials responsible for the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus blasphemed when they claimed they had no king but Caesar (John 19:15). Indeed they had—Jesus was supposed to be their king! We must be careful not to make the same mistake.

We must also be Christian in our engagement with and conversation about our leaders. We need not agree with them. But it is clearly unchristian to slander them, even if we do so—perhaps especially if we do so—in the name of patriotism. We must honor them in our language, and we must commit to pray for them (1 Tim. 2:1-2). We pray for wisdom, insight, and courage as they guide the nation "for our good." And we pray that America, under their leadership, will prosper, "because if it prospers, you too will prosper."

Brandon O'Brien is an editor at large with Leadership Journal.

Copyright © 2011 by Christianity Today International/ChristianBibleStudies.com.

With this, as we celebrate National Day here in Singapore in a few weeks' time, let us, as Christians, be reminded that we are citizens of heaven!

To Live is Christ!

2011-07-15T12:30:00.000+08:00

Sovereign Grace Music. To Live Is Christ from the album, RISEN.

Verse 1
Before You gave us life and breath
You numbered all our days
You set Your gracious love on us
And chose us to be saved
This fleeting life is passing by
With all its joys and pain
But we believe to live is Christ
And death is gain

Chorus
To live is Christ, to die is gain
In every age this truth remains
We will not fear, we're unashamed
To live is Christ, to die is gain

Verse 2
And though we grieve for those we love
Who fall asleep in Christ
We know they'll see the Savior's face
And gaze into His eyes
So now we grieve yet we don't grieve
As those who have no hope
For just as Jesus rose again
He'll raise His own

Verse 3
And now we're longing for the day
We'll see the Lamb once slain
Who saved a countless multitude
To glorify His name
We're yearning for the wedding feast
Of Jesus and His bride
His nail-scarred hands will finally
Bring us to His side

What Would Jesus Do About Casey Anthony?

2011-07-15T11:00:00.000+08:00

Apart from my own conclusions, I believe we, as Christians, need to first ask ourselves, What would Jesus do about Casey Anthony?

[See previously: The Curious Case of Casey Anthony]

On CBMW, Gabrielle Pickle wrote this:

I admit, I've stayed on the sidelines of this fight, more out of shock at the frenzied reaction than lack of an opinion. But days later, as I sit here thinking and praying over this awful story, it hits me that many Christians have jumped into the fray of a vigilante mob out for vengeance before stopping to ask what Jesus would have them do about Casey Anthony.

So, my Christian readers, what would Jesus do and say about Casey Anthony? How would our Savior respond? In grief (Mt. 19:13-15)? In justice (Ex. 20:13)? In forgiveness (1 Jn. 1:9)? In love (Mt. 5:43-48)? In repentance (Jn. 8:1-11)? In judgment (Rev. 20:11-15)?

What Scriptures do you think apply to the Casey Anthony situation? How are we, as followers of Christ, to respond? What should our stance be to the world? We want to know what you think.

One particular response to the post caught my attention, and I believe is something for all of us to ponder.

Jennifer, on UnlockingFemininity, wrote:

I admit, my very first thought from Tuesday’s windfall was that indeed if she IS guilty, she will one day give an answer to the Lord, and my heart hurt thinking about that. One thing that I think we as humans really struggle with is the understanding that to the Lord, there’s no “degree” of sin. Sin is sin, and ANY sin separates us from God. To Him, the vilest, darkest thought that takes up residence in our hearts and minds, completely unknown to others, distances us just as much as the killing of an innocent child (just as much as killing a ruthless terrorist, for that matter). Humanity does classify wrongs – warnings, tickets, misdemeanors, felonys, death penalty, but the Lord doesn’t. So, let’s assume for a minute that Casey is guilty. We might judge Casey based on the foulness of the crime committed, but the crime hasn’t distanced her any further from God than our sins distance us. So the Lord looks at her as equally blemished as us. However he judges her, he also judges us. But Casey is able to be redeemed through that same hope that has redeemed us – Christ alone. And just like Isaiah 30:18 promises, the Lord longs to be gracious to her, and rises to show her compassion as well.

Before we "jump into the fray of a vigilante mob out for vengeance", let us stop and remember the wonderful and undeserving grace that our Lord and Saviour has given us for all the sins we have committed.

Matthew 7 says,

1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?
5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

God Answers

2011-07-13T18:45:00.000+08:00

After a flurry of happenings this morning regarding the reschedule of my specialist appointment, I would like to thank You, Lord, for answering my prayer. Thank You, for allowing it to be rescheduled to the week after my trip back to HK.

Hillsong. Came To My Rescue.

Falling on my knees in worship
Giving all I am to seek Your face
Lord all I am is Yours

My whole life I place in Your hands
God of Mercy Humbled I bow down
In Your presence at Your throne

I called, You answered
And You came to my rescue and I
I wanna be where You are

In my life, be lifted high
In our world, be lifted high
In our love, be lifted high

What Faith Can Do

2011-07-12T17:30:00.000+08:00

Jayesslee sang this song at CHC after sharing their testimony of their mother. I heard this before, as the video below.

I'm reminded of God's grace and provision. Even as I found out today about a hairline fracture in my tailbone after an x-ray, I'll cling on to the hope that it'll heal real soon. I'll have faith in my Healer.

Kutless. What Faith Can Do.

Everybody falls sometimes
Gotta find the strength to rise
From the ashes and make a new beginning
Anyone can feel the ache
You think it’s more than you can take
But you're stronger, stronger than you know
Don’t you give up now
The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds
To find the silver lining

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard
Impossible is not a word
It’s just a reason for someone not to try
Everybody’s scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
It’ll be alright
Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

Overcome the odds
You don't have a chance
(That’s what faith can do)
When the world says you can’t
It’ll tell you that you can!

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do
That's what faith can do!

Even if you fall sometimes
You will have the strength to rise

A Ride: Post-Reflection

2011-07-11T19:50:00.000+08:00

A couple of days ago I blogged about my eventful ride. On hindsight, I think there are other lessons to take away other than those mentioned.

I'm just thankful to God that He didn't let me die so early, so young. The wounds that I ended up with are reminders, not only of future safety precautions, but also of His provision of life.

Psalm 139:13-16 says,
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

With the amount of thought and effort God put into creating us, we ought to treasure our lives and make sure we honour Him in every way possible.

All the more because of this accident, I pray that I do not forget that I was made for His pleasure, for His family, to become like Christ, to serve Him, and for missions. (The Purpose-Driven Life)

Blogging to Worship God

2011-07-11T11:45:00.001+08:00

Here's Bob Kauflin, author of Worship Matters, on Blogging to Worship God. He has reminded me that the reason I blog is to, and should be to, worship God ALONE, and not draw attention and focus away from Him to this blog, or even to myself.

A few months ago I became acquainted with the blog search engine technorati.com, and learned that it searched 14.2 million weblogs. I checked it yesterday and it was up to 20.7 million. That’s a lot of blogs. Someone said there’s a new blog every second. Personally, I think that’s probably conservative. “Who has time to read all this stuff?” I ask myself after spending 30 minutes reading blogs.

And here I am adding one more blog to the world. How did I get here? Let me explain…
From 1999-2003 I wrote a column called “Worship Matters” for crosswalk.com. When I stopped writing, Crosswalk kindly reran the series. As the second run came to a close, I considered writing columns again. However, a good friend informed me that the Internet world had changed significantly in the last 5 years, and that a blog would be a better vehicle for communicating. So here I am.

I plan to primarily share thoughts on worship and music, but will also recommend resources that have helped me gain a more biblical understanding in those areas. I’ll also talk about specific ways I’ve applied principles in my local church, Covenant Life. Although I’m not taking public comments at this point, feel free to e-mail me with questions or feedback. If you’re a worship leader, pastor, Christian musician, or simply a follower of Jesus Christ who wants to deepen your love for the Savior, I hope you’ll find this blog helpful.

Starting this blog has been more challenging than I expected.

When I consider all that has been written on worship the past few years (and I’m sure I’ve just seen a small slice), it doesn’t seem like there’s much more to say. We simply need to do it. Worship God, that is. In addition, many of the articles/books I’ve read communicate what I want to share much better than I could ever hope to. Maybe I should just make my blog a collection of great quotes on worship.

I’m also concerned that churning out a five-day-a-week column (that’s the goal, anyway) might be a little challenging. I’m not sure I can even convince Julie, my wife and best friend of 29 years, to read my blog THAT often.

Undoubtedly, PRIDE has held me back. I don’t simply want to write a blog on worship. I want to write THE blog on worship (it helps that there aren’t very many out there to begin with). In my worst moments I’m hoping worshipmatters.com will be quoted, blogrolled, referenced, acclaimed, recognized, and well, worshiped. The fear that that WON’T happen, and that worshipmatters.com will die after two weeks due to lack of interest, gives me pause.

Ironic, isn’t it? One of my motives for writing a blog on worshipping God seems to be gaining glory for myself. Come to think of it, one of my motives for almost everything I do seems to be gaining glory for myself.

But, maybe you’re like me. Your efforts to steal God’s glory make you weep, and you ache to be undone by the splendor of Jesus Christ. You realize that attempts at “worship,” however musically skilled, historically rooted, emotionally moving, passionately expressive, culturally relevant, or theologically precise, can never adequately express the praise God deserves. You want worship to extend beyond singing to influence your every thought, word, and action.

If that’s you, I pray this blog will encourage you. If you grow in your understanding of worship and music that will be great. But my real hope is that you’ll see more clearly that the only life worth living is the one that magnifies God’s supreme worth and the grace found in Jesus Christ.

Thanks for reading.

“As it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
(Phil. 1:20-21, ESV)

The Curious Case of Casey Anthony

2011-07-09T22:00:00.001+08:00

I've heard of Casey Anthony somewhere in the news, but I never paid much attention to it until now. I was browsing through The Huffington Post, and I first read an article titled "Jesse Grund, Casey Anthony's Ex-Fiance, Calls Family A 'Carnival Of Dysfunctionality'", before being drawn to the article titled "Casey Anthony Juror: 'Sick To Our Stomachs' Over Verdict".

Who wouldn't be curious?

A summary of the case is given on this article.

In June 2008, Anthony's 2-year-old daughter Caylee was last seen at the Orlando home she shared with her mom and her maternal grandparents. For the next month, Casey Anthony, then 22, left her parents' house and spent most of her time with friends, shopping and partying, telling her family and others that Caylee was with an imaginary nanny.

Anthony's mother called detectives when Anthony could not produce her child. Anthony told investigators she hadn't called them because the nanny had kidnapped the child and she had been conducting her own search, two of the numerous lies she told investigators.

Anthony was acquitted of murder in Caylee's death, but convicted of four misdemeanor counts of lying to investigators. She was sentenced to the maximum of four years, but after serving nearly three years in jail awaiting trial, coupled with good behavior credits, she is set to go free next Sunday.

For a timeline, click HERE. It will help.

For courtroom drama, click HERE.

THIS psychology article proves also to be an interesting read.

[EDIT] @ 8PM 11th July 2011.
THIS latest Huffington Post article is a must-read for those of you who wants not only the summary, but also to find out why the U.S. public has so much angst and frustration over the case. The answer: no answer; the coroner could not determine how Caylee Anthony died.

Personally, I not only find this whole case bizarre, but I am also creeped out to the max. Here are a few conclusions that I've gathered:

#1: Only God knows the truth.
HERE is a quote from an ABCnews article:

Alan Dershowitz, part of the defense team that worked on the O.J. Simpson case and a Harvard law professor, sees the Anthony case as a prime example of how the justice system separates what happens outside the courthouse from what happens inside.

"There's a disconnect, because people outside see the trial on television, they think of it as reality television. And on television there's always a result. If this person isn't guilty, someone else is," Dershowitz told ABC News.

"In real life, we may never know what happened. We may end up with uncertainty. Uncertainty is a very important part of the criminal justice system," he added.

What exactly transpired behind the scenes within the Anthony family is only for them to know, and for us probably to never find out. Just as Jennifer Ford, a juror, said, "I just said there was not enough evidence. If you cannot prove what the crime was, you cannot determine what the punishment should be."

In the legal system, it has all to do with evidence, with logic, with proof. Given that this is the world we live in, I'm reminded, and comforted, that "we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen." (2 Cor. 4:18)

#2: Parents have a huge responsibility.
Father Alberto Cutie said this on The Huffington Post:

Parents always need to be held accountable for the well being of their children. When a child is missing, the parent must be expected to be the first to be well aware of it; there is no time to party, for tattoos or for hanging out with friends. Regardless of the age, emotional maturity or circumstances surrounding that parent's life, children must always be protected, nurtured and educated by their parents -- unconditionally. There are no excuses for what happened to Caylee Anthony! That is why in this land of "justice for all," many will continue to wonder if that includes little Caylee.

While our earthly parents may fail us (they are also humans), we know that we can rely on our Heavenly Father, who will provide all that we need, who will never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), who has written all the days of our lives in His book even before we were born! (Psalm 139:16)

#3: Upbringing and personality is crucial to an individual's present ABC -- attitude, behaviour and character.
This is a nature-nurture issue, and it also involves a great deal of psychology. I've always been fascinated by such matters, and especially in this case, I'm wondering of the multitude of factors that plays into the make-up of Casey Anthony's character and thinking process. In fact, it's not just for Casey, but for Cindy and George, her parents.

Each family has its own characteristics, and functionality cannot really be determined, unless considered to be an ideal. Every family has its own problems, and that makes each unique.

To consider the Anthony family to be dysfunctional, I beg the question: what exactly are we comparing their family to? Since all families are flawed in some sense, we can only compare it to God's ideal.

Though each of us may be flawed, but we need to look to Jesus as our Answer.

The curious case of Casey Anthony won't end here. The US public continues to scorn Anthony and her family. Anthony considers publishing a book on Caylee and herself. Various interviewers capitalises on Anthony's case to reap greater profits by gaining viewership. So where do we move on from here?

Regardless of the truth behind the death of Caylee Anthony, ultimately God has commanded us not to judge others. Instead of being self-righteous and judgmental, we need to judge ourselves first. Let's leave the judging of others to God. (July 09, friends in lowly places. 40-day 2011.)

Rolling in the Deep

2011-07-09T17:45:00.000+08:00

A cover of Adele's Rolling in the Deep, by Maddi Jane.

She's only 12! She could work on some of the parts, but I enjoyed her singing nonetheless. :)

We Have Been Healed

2011-07-08T21:30:00.000+08:00

Browsing through some blogs, I found this song by Sovereign Grace Ministries from Covenant Life Church: We Have Been Healed. Its inspiration has been drawn from 1 Peter 2:22-25, which says,

22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

VS 1
You bore our sins in Your body
As You were hung on a tree,
So we might die to rebellion
And live for him who set us free

VS 2
You were mocked and reviled
Suffering in our place
Trusting all to Your Father
So enemies could know Your grace

CH
We have been healed, justified
Made alive in the life of Christ
Righteous blood covers every sin
Risen Lamb, heaven’s light
Crucified and now alive
In Your love, You have drawn us in

VS 3
Like straying sheep we were wandering
Destitute and alone
You sought us out like a shepherd
You carried us and brought us home

BR
All our sin for your grace
What a glorious exchange
All our sin for your grace
What a glorious exchange
All our sin for your grace
What a glorious exchange

Music by Rich Gunderlock, words by Rich Gunderlock and Bob Kauflin.

Check out the live acoustic version HERE!

Global Gridlock

2011-07-08T13:20:00.002+08:00

Bill Ford has posed a huge challenge for all of us today: to solve the global gridlock afflicting most, if not all, cities. His two passions for cars and for the environment have pushed forward a thinking that we need to strive for both sustainability and mobility.

Indeed, there is no one silver bullet. Yet, there's a lot of potential for us who live in the 21st Century to start capitalising on present technology, studying current social trends and mobility patterns, and shifting perspectives, in order for us to create a more sustainable and mobile future. (And that includes relying less on automobiles!) :)

NY High Line

2011-07-08T13:00:00.000+08:00

I remember browsing through photos of the New York High Line on National Geographic and posted the album link on Facebook. Robert Hammond and Joshua David in Friends of the High Line are really brilliant people, who took pains to preserve something so close to the heart of New Yorkers, when many others wanted to tear it down.

I love how a whole new public space has been created in place of a run-down, abandoned facility that runs right through the heart of Manhattan. Perhaps, our Singapore railway can be transformed to such beauty as well?

A Ride

2011-07-08T11:30:00.001+08:00

Here I am, on medical leave at home, after an eventful Wednesday night riding. I never thought it'd happen to me, but it is indeed a painful experience to learn from.

Lesson #1:
Don't speed.

Lesson #2:
In a flurry of events, you really can't remember what exactly transpired.

Lesson #3:
Thank God for knee guards and elbow guards, even though they flew out upon impact.

Lesson #4:
Doctors can be really apathetic.

Nonetheless, no one needs to worry, because I'm doing fine, with minor inhibitions to movement. Thank God I'm still alive. :D

To my friends in camp, sorry I can't be there for SSPP. Jiayou!

Life in a Day

2011-07-07T19:15:00.001+08:00

Oh la!

God Promises Blessings

2011-07-03T17:00:00.002+08:00

Romans 8:28-29 says,
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Brighter Than The Sun

2011-07-01T23:55:00.000+08:00

Brighter Than The Sun, by Colbie Caillat.

Stop me on the corner
I swear you hit me like a vision
I, I, I wasn’t expecting
But who am I to tell fate where it’s supposed to go with it?
Don’t you blink you might miss it
See we got a right to just love it or leave it
You find it and keep it
Cause it ain’t every day you get the chance to say

Oh, this is how it starts, lighting strikes the heart
It goes off like a gun, brighter than the sun
Oh, it could be the stars, falling from the sky
Shining how we want, brighter than the sun

I never seen it, but I found this love I’m undefeated
You better believe I'm gonna treat it, better than anything I’ve ever had
Cause you’re so damn beautiful
Read it it’s signed and delivered let’s seal it
Boy we go together like peanuts and paydays and marley and reggae
And it ain’t every day you get the chance to say

Oh, this is how it starts, lighting strikes the heart
It goes off like a gun, brighter than the sun
Oh, it could be the stars, falling from the sky
Shining how we want, brighter than the sun

Everything is like a whiteout, cause we shooka-shooka shine down
Even when the when the light’s out but I can see you glow
Got my head up in the rafters, got me happy ever after
Never felt this way before, ain’t felt this way before

I swear you hit me like a vision
I, I, I wasn’t expecting
But who am I to tell fate where it’s supposed to go with it?

Oh, this is how it starts, lighting strikes the heart
It goes off like a gun, brighter than the sun
Oh, it could be the stars, falling from the sky
Shining how we want, brighter than the sun, yeah
Oho, yeah, oho
Oh, this is how it starts, lighting strikes the heart
It goes off like a gun, brighter than the sun

Going Deep

2011-06-30T10:20:00.002+08:00

Taken from ChristianityToday.com, by Gordon MacDonald.

RECENTLY I have been drawn to the word deep as a descriptor when I speak of mature Christians. My earliest appreciation for the term came when I read a comment by Richard Foster: "The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people."

What does it mean to be a deep Christ-follower today when unlimited options, noisy distractions, and a million versions of truth swamp the soul? How is it possible to be a deep person while being swept up in a 50-60 hour work week (if you're working), community and school events, shopping, networking, laundering, family-building … oh, and staying on top of things at church too? Is deep even thinkable for anyone living outside of a monastery? I'm just asking.

Of course we can't even attempt to answer these questions until we explore what deep means. Here's my working definition: Deep people are those whose lives are organized around Jesus, his character, his call to a serving life, and his death on the cross for their sins. The abilities (or giftedness) of deep people may be quite diverse, but each has the power to influence others to follow Jesus, grow in Christ-likeness, and live a life of faithful service. They love the world, mix well with people, but are wary of spiritual entrapments. They are known for their wisdom, their compassion for others, and their perseverance in hard times.

How important is depth?
Now, consider this statement: A church's greatest treasure is its deep people. I know recent church emphasis has valued seekers, young people, and people that reflect diversity — all important elements of a healthy church. But absent a core of deep people, a church is in trouble. Deep people do not just happen; they are cultivated. Let's take this thought one step further. Deep people are a treasure greater than a church's preacher; greater than its hottest program; even greater than its worship band. I can hear teeth gnashing.

If the previous paragraph is true, then evaluate the following propositions:

A high percentage of a church's deep people should be lay-people, those whose lives are lived in the marketplace, the school, or the community.

Church leaders should be aware of who their deep people are, just as much as they know where their money is … or isn't.

Church leaders should imagine an approach to ministry that makes the continuous cultivation of deep people (of every age) its highest priority.

Churches should consider assigning this cultivation effort to their lead pastors, noting it as their top responsibility.

What would it mean for a church to accept these propositions? Well, what if—hang with me here—the first paragraph of the lead pastor's job description were to read: "The first priority of the lead pastor is to serve as the chief (spiritual) development officer of the entire congregation. He or she will be held personally accountable by the church board to train a certain number of men and women each year qualified to offer spiritual leadership inside and beyond the church organization."

Two developments have prompted these thoughts. The first is a growing suspicion that many churches are no longer producing many (if any) truly deep people. Something is not working. The Willow Creek Association self-study, called REVEAL, seems to speak to this when it expresses concern for the paucity of mature Christians to be developed by mere involvement in church programs. I've done my own unscientific, anecdotal study. Wherever I go in North America and in other parts of the world, I ask pastors these questions:

How many deep people do you know? This often generates a discussion on what deep people look like (see above) and the quiet admission that the number of them is small.

Any chance we're calling people to an unlivable faith?

If not, do you think your church is producing deep people? (This, all-too-frequently, causes a thoughtful silence and an inventory of discipleship programs that mostly seem to work, but only for a short time.)

Do you personally, as pastor, spend time identifying and mentoring potentially deep people? (This often leads to conversations on how few hours there are in a work week.)

The answers I get to these questions are occasionally encouraging. But most lead me to conclude that a lot of pastors concentrate on what draws crowds (often preaching) but neglect what cultivates deep people (usually mentoring).

But what if most preaching events rarely produce deep people? What if preaching tends rather to inspire, to inform, to provide practical Christian advice—but little more?

These are important functions. But if the premier challenge in ministry leadership is to develop deep people, as described, for example, in Paul's words, "rooted, built up, strengthened in the faith as taught … overflowing with thanksgiving," then we may need to rethink how life-altering ministry is accomplished.

Occasionally, when I talk to pastors about these things, I am reminded that larger churches often have a staff person responsible for "discipleship." This usually means small group programs. These are often very good people.

But sometimes I push back by saying that, if populating the church with increasing numbers of deep people is a church's highest priority, then that priority cannot be delegated to associate staff. It must be led, and led aggressively, I suggest, by the senior leader. Only then will the congregation get the message that this deep-people cultivation stuff is really important. In other words, the lead pastor must be first-cultivator.

What did Jesus do?
One day I asked myself: If Jesus read the classifieds on the Christianity Today website and decided to apply for a ministry job, which one would he choose? Lead pastor? Soup kitchen operator? Denominational executive? Custodian? Children's worker?

Apparently most of the hours of Jesus' public ministry were invested in a small number of men and women who, under his mentorship, morphed into deep people and set in motion a movement that continues to this day. No question about it: this mentoring activity was Jesus at his best, his sweet spot.

So, in what capacity did he do it? Like many do it today? Form a circle and fill in the blanks of a Bible study booklet? Hold a series of Tuesday evening meetings and show videos of inspirational speakers? I don't think so.

Jesus cultivated deep people in the traditional way of the rabbis. So how did rabbis go about reshaping peoples' lives? In a way considerably different than ours.

Like most rabbis of his time, Jesus did preach. But it was a very different sort of preaching. Much of it was dialogical: story-telling, questions and answers, argument. It bore little resemblance to the monologues of today's preachers. If someone interrupted my preaching, as they apparently did in Jesus' time, I'd be horrified.

Strangely enough, much of Jesus' preaching would have earned him low grades in today's preaching courses. I mean, how would you grade a preacher who started with a curious crowd of thousands that dwindled to an audience of 12, who themselves were hardly paragons of fidelity?

Yet Jesus seemed unconcerned with empty seats. What he does appear to have cared about is what the 12 were going to be and do. I'm left to assume that Jesus the rabbi was less a preacher and more a cultivator-coach to those disciples he'd chosen. What he did with them and how he did it, I call the genius of the rabbinical contract.

I never used to take Jesus' status as a rabbi seriously. With apologies to my Jewish friends, I thought his role as a rabbi was incidental. Then I took a fresh look at the Lord's life and realized that this status as an itinerant rabbi was crucial to understanding his ministry approach. His mission was to redeem and reframe the lives of those who would extend this mission after he was gone. Rabbis, like parents, always had their eyes on the future. Who would perpetuate their teaching?

It's likely that at the age of 12, Jesus stood out among his peers for his remarkable ability to master the Torah and his aptitude for engaging with people, including those much older than he. Luke says people really liked Jesus.

A speculative question might be raised: Who was Jesus' rabbi when he was young? Who was his teacher?

I've no idea, but don't ignore one special person: his mother. She had to have had a profound influence upon his development. She was clearly one tough and intelligent lady (reread The Magnificat). I'm sure that she read the prophet Isaiah to her son every time she had the chance. You can almost hear her saying, "Son, the proud, the powerful, and the rich are not where it's at. Keep your eye out for the poor, the hungry, and the oppressed. Tell them they're loved." And he did.

At the age of 30 Jesus left his family trade and hit the road as a rabbi-teacher. Itinerant rabbis moved from town to town and conducted seminar-type meetings with local people who usually welcomed them and hoped for a miracle or a revolution. In another time we might have called what Jesus did barnstorming. Each of these roaming rabbis possessed a somewhat unique interpretation of the Torah, and their collections of teachings were known as their "word" (as in "my word will not pass away") or even their "gospel." It was said that a rabbi "received" his teaching from one who'd gone before him.

Most visible in the life of a rabbi were his students or disciples. They were usually a small, carefully vetted group of younger men who followed the teacher. In some cases, disciples got into this rabbinical relationship because their families negotiated with the rabbi in a way not dissimilar to the way a parent might try to get a son or daughter into a top college or university.

The better connected a family was in the social network, the greater a young man's chances of connecting with a highly-regarded rabbi. Paul reflects this arrangement when he supports his claim to be an authentic Jew. "Under Gamaliel, I was thoroughly trained," he says. Today he might have put it this way: "I got my degree from the College of Gamaliel."

We have several descriptions of how things developed between Jesus and his disciples. When Jesus spent time on the boat with Peter and other fishermen, Peter told him, "Depart from me for I am a sinful man" (Luke 5).

Peter simply could not visualize himself as a disciple. Too much of a past, he may have reasoned; too many character defects; too many other ambitions. He seemed to see no way he could be what Jesus' rabbinical contract would require.

Jesus' response -"from this moment you will become a fisher of men"— doubtlessly builds off an extensive earlier conversation. In the end Jesus broke through Peter's resistance and drew him away from his trade and into a life of learning and serving.

In telling us this story, the gospel writers seem to assume that we, the readers, are conversant with the drama of the disciple-picking event. They seem to assume we know that this leaving of the nets was no instant decision, but that it had been discussed, proposed, pondered. And now the thinking became actionable. Peter and the others enter the rabbinical contract.

In the times that followed, Peter's rogue opinions and impulsive behaviors appear to vindicate his original opinion of himself. He was no "rock" in those early days, and most of us—had we been the rabbi—would probably have offloaded him at the first opportunity.

Jesus' further choice to call both Matthew (tax collector) and Simon (of the Zealot movement) is stunning when you think about it. The two men could easily have killed each other! Their political positions were as different as those of Bill Maher and Rush Limbaugh.

The 12 Jesus picked were diverse in their personalities, backgrounds, and expectations. Few of us would dare to put these people in the same room together, much less anticipate depth from them.

How do you deepen a disciple?
So how did Jesus deepen these men? Three answers: emulation, information, and examination.

Emulation: The disciples of a rabbi sought to mimic everything about their mentor. What did he think? How did he talk? How did he eat? Disciples desired to be flawless copies of their rabbi. They believed that the rabbi was the incarnation of the Torah, and they, in turn, wished for others to see the example of the rabbi in them. Now we can understand Paul when he says: "I want to know Christ … even in his death." To know was to be like.

Information: The rabbi might teach in the Temple area, but, often, rabbis taught away from a classroom and out on the roads, the fields, the marketplace, the lake shore. Everything in ordinary life became an illustration of the rabbi's teaching; most everything was taught in story form or in riddles and proverbs designed to make a point and challenge the disciple's mind. Rabbis were unafraid to leave conclusions up in the air. Even Jesus tells stories with no obvious application. It's as if he likes to say, "Go figure!"

Examination: Rabbis provided times of testing. Think of Jesus' ministry: the storm, feeding the 5000, the betrayal in the garden. Times of testing. You can hear Jesus, saying "Where is your faith?" when the storm is quieted. "You give them something to eat," he demands pointing to the crowd. "You're all going to forsake me," he predicts. There were also rebukes: "Get behind me, Satan." And questions: "What were you discussing when I wasn't there?" And assignments: "He sent them to preach the kingdom of God …"

When the rabbi decided that the contract had been fulfilled, he discharged his disciples. Again, Jesus: "You're servants no longer; you're friends." "It's best for you that I go away." "You're going to do more than I've done." "Love one another as you've been loved." "Get out into the world and replicate yourselves by teaching what I've taught you."

After saying these things, he left them. His teaching now burned into their heads, his spirit now resident in their hearts. Finally, they were on their way to becoming deep people.

You've got to admit it when you review the story: Jesus was an incredible producer of deep people. In three years he made 12 champions. Well, 11 anyway.

How do we do what Jesus did?
So what might we learn from all of this?

1. By knowing our "main thing." Is our goal simply to attract a crowd? Or to develop deep people who will carry on Jesus' cause? Developing deep people may not produce instant crowds, but it lays the foundation for a strong and enduring ministry.

2. By not delegating this away. Developing deep people has to be spearheaded by the number one person in the organization. Ask yourself—and this is sort of silly—if Jesus could have accomplished what he came to do if he had turned to John the Baptizer and said, "I'd like to make you my discipleship director. You teach the people what I think is important while I address the larger crowds, cast the vision, raise the money, and network the influencers in the Temple."

3. By helping our churches see that the continuous development of deep people is among the church's most serious investments, and that pastors are held accountable for their work in pursuing this mandate.

4. By following the strategy of emulation, information and examination. Admittedly, this takes time, and it probably means that a lead pastor might have to say to the church board, "I'm going to invest 20 percent of my time in 12-15 people each year, and you're going to have to support me when the congregation begins to ask why I'm not around for a lot of program events."

The strategy of the rabbinical contract probably requires time away from church property, being out of the view of the larger congregation. The pastor's home might be a good place to start. The would-be disciples' workplaces could be another. Any venue where growth can be taught, illustrated, and tested is a useful place.

A fifth thought. Rabbis are not necessarily nice guys. They constantly raise the bar on their disciples. They are not reluctant to open up their own lives; they know how to poke into the inner space of their disciples; they know how to bring out the best in others. Cultivating deep people is serious business.

Paul is thinking about the rabbinical contract when he writes to Timothy. "What I've taught you … teach others … who will teach others." Do it by being an example, Paul says, "in speech (what and how you say things), in life (the way you live), love (your quality of relationships), faith (how you trust God), and purity (your moral choices)." That's all rabbinical talk. "Command, rebuke, exhort?" Also rabbinical. In short: Timothy's assignment was to grow deep people.

Here's a final thought. We're developing disciples of Jesus not of ourselves. The rabbi's deep people are not his. Disciples are not to be owned, controlled, or misused. They belong to Jesus, and he is free to guide them toward life and leadership in the church but also, possibly, beyond it. The church's greatest treasure—these deep people—must be shared, exported, sent out.

When Jesus prayed before his arrest in the garden, what did he pray for? He prayed for "those whom you gave me." Hear him: "I have revealed you to them … I have given them your word … they need your protection … they need to be sanctified … I've sent them out."

He prayed not for the crowds he'd preached to, but for the disciples he'd cultivated.

I have known a "rabbi" or two in my life who guided me through the process of emulation, instruction, and examination. Sometimes they were tough, sometimes tender. They believed in the present and future me. They saw what I might become and endeavored to deepen me. They are all gone now. I miss them greatly. But I have their "word," and I'm committed to handing their gospel on to others.

Gordon MacDonald is editor at large of Leadership Journal.

The Colorado River Delta: Dead

2011-06-29T23:20:00.000+08:00

Alexandra Cousteau's Expedition Blue Planet
Death of a River: The Colorado River Delta

I remember studying the Colorado River back in geography class. Rivers have always intrigued me, whether it is about floods, river pollution or river regeneration.

Cousteau impressed upon me how consumeristic our human lifestyle has been, that we prioritise our comfort over the environment's needs. It is the environment that God has left in our care. How have we been good stewards of this land?

Major Minus?

2011-06-26T17:50:00.000+08:00

Major Minus, by Coldplay.

This song highly amuses me, because it seems to relate to what we actually do on missions, although some parts (e.g. crocodiles ticking round the world) don't quite make sense. Enjoy.

They got one eye watching you
One eye, what you do?
So be careful who it is you're talking to

They got one eye watching you
One eye, what you do?
So be careful what it is you’re tryin' to do

And be careful when you're walking into view
Just be careful when you're walking into view

Ooh-ooh-oooh
Ooh-ooh-oooh-oooh

Got one eye on the road and one on you

Ooh-ooh-oooh
Ooh-ooh-oooh-oooh

Got one eye on the road and one on…

They got one eye watching you
And one eye, what you do?
So be careful 'cause nothing they say is true

Bu-but don't believe a word
It's just us against the world
And we just gotta turn to be heard

I hear the crocodiles ticking 'round the world
I hear those crocodiles ticking, they go ticking 'round the world

Ooh-ooh-oooh
Ooh-ooh-oooh-oooh

Got one eye on the road and one on you

Ooh-ooh-oooh
Ooh-ooh-oooh-oooh

Got one eye on the road and hey!

I can hear them climbing the stairs
I got my left side, fight you on the left
Hiding too much, yes

Ooh-ooh-oooh
Ooh-ooh-oooh-oooh

Got one eye on the road and one on you

Ooh-ooh-oooh
Ooh-ooh-oooh-oooh

Got one eye on the road and one on you

Moving On From Here

2011-06-25T15:00:00.000+08:00

Thank God, for the week has ended. Much has been and has to be learned. Indeed, it has been another memorable experience at Tekong.

Many new issues have surfaced and I believe they beg to be resolved. Back at my unit, quoting my officer: "The specs will always be closer to the ground."

Over the past few weeks, I harboured some grudges to a few people. Hearing that statement, I felt that I have been given a new perspective. More often than not, in my position as a PS, I feel that I've been tasked a lot, sometimes beyond my jobscope. Comparing with others, be it superiors or peers, I never quite measure up fairly.

Regardless, I need to stop making comparisons. Beyond just me, I think all of us need to strive for something different from what we have experienced ourselves and create something better for our juniors and troopers.

We cannot say that things should remain the way they are since they have been in that way ever since. We need to courageously stand up and say no, there is a better way to do something.

Mould me, Lord. There is much to be changed.

Here We Go Again: Tekong

2011-06-19T15:15:00.000+08:00

Tomorrow marks the 4th time that I'm entering Tekong. The 1st being BMT, the 2nd for Grand Slam, the 3rd for RCC and now for BRCC. Goodness.

Tekong is truly memorable, though undesirable. Lord, whatever is ahead, I lift them up all to you. Rain or shine, fatigue or rest, may I persevere! May all of us be physically and mentally prepared to face the challenges, conquering each mission with a strong fighting spirit!

I'll be gone the whole week. Till we meet again.

Here's Courageous, by Casting Crowns.

Proverbs 3:27-30

2011-06-18T15:40:00.002+08:00

Proverbs 3:27-30 (NLT) says,

27 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them.
28 If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say, “Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.”

29 Don’t plot harm against your neighbor, for those who live nearby trust you.
30 Don’t pick a fight without reason, when no one has done you harm.

Let It Go

2011-06-18T15:20:00.000+08:00

Corrinne May, Let It Go.

I think we've been here before
I recognize this place
I've seen the marks of confusion
wipe out a single sign of grace
And I don't want to play anymore
Not when the stakes are so high
So before we circle round once more
I'm gonna lay down,
Lay down my pride

Let it go, let it be
Don't waste all your emotion on this
tit-for-tat machine
Let it go, let it be
Let it go

I turn on the TV
and it screams out at me
Nothing seems to have changed
since the start of Adam and Eve
So we're waiting for the sky to fall
and we're buying brand new toys
But before we circle round once more
Can we lay down
Just lay down this pride

Let it go, let it be
Don't waste all your emotion on this
tit-for-tat machine
Let it go, let it be
Let it go
Don't go wasting your emotions
No one wins if we keep score
Let it go, let it be
Let it go

Dempsey Hill

2011-06-11T23:50:00.000+08:00

Boon Pin's birthday was celebrated at Dempsey Hill tonight. Wang Wei drove us there, for the sake of 'educating' us about a place where people socialise. I must say, this 'attas' place is unique and strangely out-of-Singapore.

Dinner was served at The Range Home, home to Ben & Jerry's and CA* California. Whether it was Boon Pin's "Bockwurst Sausage Platter", Wang Wei's "Open-Faced Ranchero-Style Steak & Egg Sandwich", or my "Union Sq Pasta Bolognaise", they were all awesome. Pricy, but it's pretty worth it. The pop music was rather loud, and we missed the live band or performance. Nonetheless, it has my thumbs up. :)

We chilled at Jones the grocer, which I absolutely adored. Everything caught my attention: from the chocolates from Italy, to the recipe books about Greek cuisine, from the hazelnuts that cost $24, to the artsy-fartsy cylinders of hot chocolate. I'm going back there one day!

Anyway, happy birthday, Boon Pin!

Human Beings

2011-06-11T16:30:00.000+08:00

"We are human BEINGS, not human DOINGS."

As I read Day 22 of The Purpose Driven Life, I felt I lacked in many things. I love the above statement. Indeed, God is far more interested in and concerned about what we are than what we do.

Here are my 3 takeaways from Rick Warren's 3 pointers.

#1: We must cooperate with the Holy Spirit's work.
"Move ahead in your weakness, doing the right thing in spite of yours fears and feelings."

This is perhaps the most difficult thing to do right now. Recognising my inabilities, I tend to be hesitant to take a leap of faith. Father, grant me faith the size of a mustard seed!

#2: God uses his Word, people, and circumstances to mould us.
"Spiritual maturity is not a solitary, individual pursuit! You cannot grow to Christlikeness in isolation."

Indeed, "let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25) Only through relationships can we grow!

#3: Becoming like Christ is a long, slow process of growth.
"You are a work in progress."
"You must make a counter-culture decision to focus on becoming more like Jesus."

Easier said than done! Nevertheless, Jesus, help me base my decisions on Your Word, and involve You in every decision, thought and action!

Charter City

2011-06-11T15:45:00.000+08:00

On TED, Paul Romer talks of a radical model of growth and governance: charter cities. According to Romer, this idea has been approved in Honduras.

The model appears to be very ideal, to curb the problem of brain drain of Hondurans and to revitalise the Honduran economy by creating these charter cities governed by other countries to bring in jobs and create economic growth.

It is an amazing model that the government is looking into to build its economy again. Yet, there are issues that ought to be discussed before rushing into the conclusion that charter cities are 'the way to go'.

Building a charter city involves countries establishing themselves in the host country, which TED members raised the issue of neocolonisation. In ways that it seems like it, Chris Burl provided a better analysis:

I do agree that your concern about neocolonization is warranted, but I do not believe the original idea proposed here is a wolf in sheeps clothing. That however does not ensure those with the deep pockets have the host countries and populations best interest at heart. You are right to point out that this is a buyer beware situation and profit driven organizations do not have the same motivations that the speaker attempts to exhibit in his original premise of giving individuals more choice.

To the locals, it is a chance to improve their standard of living. From another perspective, the host country may risk its citizens being exploited by other countries in this venture, although Romer did emphasise the freedom of choice by the locals to choose where they preferred to work.

This view actually reminds me of globalisation issues that I studied in JC human geography class, whereby transnational corporations exploited locals working in their out-sourced production factories, otherwise known as sweatshops. (See this, and this.)

Another TED member, Chris Ke-Sihai, gave insight too, which I agreed to a large extent:

If you think of this project as a zone in which a city *could* be built, and the rules as being the smallest most concise set possible, things get a bit easier.

You move to the zone, and suddenly all the regulations and permits disappear. So you start a business quickly and easily, become successful, and use some of the money to build. In a few decades there is a thriving, lightly-regulated city.

Meanwhile, the country around it is impoverished due to the city sucking in all the resources. Or the country is enriched by the outflow of goods and services from the city, in payment for the things it buys from rural producers.

I see a logical issue here. If the host country is not competitive, for whatever reason, and the city is independent then it won't import from the host country but will find a more competitive supplier. The net effect will be a drain of capital and expertise from the host country, unless the country can reform itself.

If you see the city as an alternative to the existing system in the country, then it's in competition with it. If the city is simply an experimental zone, and the country implements the lessons learned, then it's a beneficial project even if the city fails.

More cities means more experiments, more choices for capital and expertise. The cities will have to compete, innovate, improve the opportunities on offer and the benefits to their hosts. One city alone can not do this. But I suppose someone has to go first.

So after all, it is an experiment that we shall wait and see how it turns out. To what extent of involvement does the host country have in the charter city? Does the charter city still abide by the law of the host country? Might the charter city over time represent a socially exclusive enclave that segregates the country?

Many issues abound. Administration will be difficult as differences between the charter city and the rest of the country emerge. Will there be more upheavals and protests against the ruling government? Will the host country be split up and losing its sovereignty, with foreign countries taking several charter cities, as though being carved out like a pizza?

Lastly, Romer contends that these charter cities be built out of uninhabited land. Aaron Thierry, a TED member, argued:

Can't help but think about all those hundreads of thousands of acres of green honduran countryside and then imagining Manhattan, this is followed by shudders running down my spine. Are we really expected to constantly think of the world as a building site? Do we really want to smother the earth in concrete?

My objection is to the notion of building huge new cities on uninhabited land, not against people living in the cities which already exist. If we must, then we should develop existing towns or cities to improve standards of living there, not start afresh on unspoilt wildernesses or crucial agricultural landscapes.

There lies the balance and compromise between the protection of the environment and the pursuit of economic growth. I hardly like the idea of vast grasslands turning into a "building site" either.

Ultimately, this model should remind us of the importance of good governance and good city and nation planning. This helps me to better appreciate our City in the Garden, Singapore. :)

Back to Work

2011-06-06T20:00:00.000+08:00

5 days of break was both well-spent and not.

Nonetheless, I'm heading back to camp tonight. It was a nice break. But tomorrow will still come to take today away.

Something to share: Adele, Set Fire To The Rain

Her vocals are amazing! FYI, I think this song is about break-up. There is no particular reason for choosing this song with regards to the lyrics; rather, I prefer to appreciate Adele's voice.

Grateful for Grace

2011-06-06T12:00:00.000+08:00

But gratefulness for grace doesn't mean we overlook areas of weakness. The Holy Spirit has also been helping us see places where the walls need repair. This shouldn't surprise us or overly discourage us. We're not in heaven yet. Covenant Life isn't the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God! We're flawed, sinful people whom God is changing. So we don't need to be shocked when we realize that there are still places where God wants to apply grace to grow and transform us. There are areas we need to strengthen. There are places where we need to acknowledge we've gotten things wrong. I don't think this process is negative or counter-productive. It's certainly not an indictment of our rich history. It's simply an acknowledgment of our ongoing need for gospel transformation and renewal. And I believe it is a vital part of ongoing growth and ongoing integrity for any local church.

- Joshua Harris, Senior Pastor, Covenant Life Church

More often than not, after accepting God's grace for the sins that I've committed, I am tempted to fall into the trap of committing the same sins again. And that's the nature of sin, with the Devil constantly prowling and exploiting our weaknesses.

The issue I've come to face is the lack of transparency with God. I have to face up with the issue, be willing to admit to God that, "Yes, Lord, this is my problem." I've brushed off problems in the past, "overlooking my weaknesses", only to have them get back to me somehow.

Over the past year, I am greatly thankful that God has been speaking into my life through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit doesn't speak literally though; It moves in my life through circumstances, through trials, through struggles, through conflicts. My journey has been anything but smooth.

The amazing thing is, God has His way of pushing me back to the right path. Sometimes I don't like it, especially when I feel extremely burdened with revelations after certain events that took place. But God loves us, and plans to give us hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). It's crazy, but God loves us regardless of what we do, who we are and how sinful we have become.

So, Lord, I pray that You will continue to work in me, granting me wisdom and discernment to allow me to be Your witness of faith, hope and love. May I not be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of my mind! (Romans 12:2)

May I work out my salvation with fear and trembling, for it is You who works in me to will and to act in order to fulfill Your good purpose. (Philippians 2:12-13)

May I have the humility and courage to stand up to face my weaknesses, for I know that when I am weak, then I am strong! Your grace is sufficient for me! (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Mutant, and Proud

2011-06-05T01:00:00.004+08:00

X-Men: First Class is a must-watch for 2011.

I loved it for #1: its themes.

It explored issues close to our hearts; it drew attention to acceptance and belonging. These issues are faced every day by everybody. Who doesn't want to belong? Who doesn't want to be part of a community, a place, or even a small group who would just accept him or her as who he or she is?

This came across as very biblical. God called us to "love your neighbour as yourself." As a body of Christ, we are thus called to love, to accept and to embrace anybody, because we are first loved, accepted and embraced by God. By His grace, we are forgiven. Shall we not forgive others as well?

I loved it for #2: its plot and characters.

Director Matthew Vaughn has managed to balance character development and plot development. He downplayed the action commonly found in big blockbusters, and yet he could captivate his audience with an evenly-paced movie, interjected with subtle but significant dialogue sufficient to bring out the emotions of the movie's characters.

Historical bits involving the Cold War and the Cuban Missile Crisis definitely made the movie more realistic. However, one must have some sort of background knowledge to better immerse in the events unfolding in the movie; otherwise, you can be quite lost.

I love Mystique's character the most in the movie. Though I was expecting more from Jennifer Lawrence, I greatly sympathise with her character. Mystique was the one who struggled the most with her own identity (being wholly blue isn't the most pleasant and acceptable among humans). Subsequently, she accepted her own uniqueness, and eventually embraced what it meant to be "mutant, and proud."

That's what we all need. We need to first accept ourselves for who we are, no matter how weird, how crazy or how awkward we may be. Thereafter, we need a community who are willing to accept us for who we are. It doesn't have to agree with us. More importantly, the community has to overlook the differences and be willing to accept us.

More often than not, rejection or the fear of rejection pushes us away from community. We become isolated, stigmatised or discriminated against. This lack of support and love then turns us toward depression and self-pity. Worse, self-rejection, unworthiness, and suicide.

So, do we have the courage to say that we are "different, and proud"?

Artfully Visualising Our Humanity

2011-06-04T14:00:00.000+08:00

I browsed TED, and found this video by artist Aaron Koblin.

His work is awesome, truly awesome. A fan of visual representation, I am thoroughly impressed by how he managed to visually represent the flights in and out of the States.

I am even more astounded by The Johnny Cash Project. He called it crowd-sourcing, putting together a product for many by many.

As for The Wilderness Downtown, I'm still experimenting with it. But I'm anticipating.

His message?
"An interface can be a powerful narrative device."

"God helps those who helps themselves"?

2011-06-02T23:15:00.000+08:00

I keep hearing people around me say, "God helps those who helps themselves." It has bothered me for a while, because I don't think the Bible truly mentioned this. That is also an issue: I don't know enough. Hence, I did some research online, and I've come to a conclusion.

FACT: The phrase is NOT found in the Bible.
This phrase has been commonly quoted by both believers and non-believers. As for me, I've heard it from my superior in camp, and most recently, from my dad. (Both are non-believers.) Truth is, the phrase is not exactly quoted in the Bible, but some verses do exemplify a similar meaning.

In 2 Thessalonians 3:10, Paul said,
"For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: 'The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.'"
Based on the principle mentioned in Galatians 6:7 that "a man reaps what he sows," the above verse implies that if you don't reap, you don't sow. In this context, Paul was warning the Thessalonians against idleness.

In James 4:8, James said,
"Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
This verse implies a need for initiative. In this context, James was reminding, and even rebuking, the Jewish Christians to have a heart for God.

On GotQuestions, however, it wrote that "whatever the original source of this saying, the Bible teaches the opposite. God helps the helpless!"

In Isaiah 25:4, Isaiah said,
"You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress,
a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat.
For the breath of the ruthless is like a storm driving against a wall."

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)," we are all helpless in terms of salvation. By God's grace, we are saved when we believe that Jesus came down to die on the cross for our sins. "God provided the 'help' that we need precisely because we could not help ourselves."

Therefore, to say that "God helps those who helps themselves" is to, in a way, discredit God and His love and grace that He has for us.

So what of the verses before?

They are essentially not wrong, really. Ultimately, it depends on the context in which the phrase is being used.

On GotQuestions, it wrote:

Many Christians fall into the trap of inactivity. Many Christians ask God for help, but then expect God to do everything Himself. They excuse this by pointing to the fact that God will provide according to His will and in His timing. However, this is not a reason for inactivity. As a specific example, if you are in need of a job, ask the Lord to help you find a job - but then be active in actually looking for a job. While it is in His power to do so, it is highly unlikely that God will cause employers to come looking for you!

Belonging

2011-06-02T20:30:00.001+08:00

The Lost Thing by Shaun Tan and Andrew Ruhemann.

This short film was recommended by Tung. It is about a boy who finds a strange creature on a beach, and decides to find a home for it in a world where everyone believes there are far more important things to pay attention to.

Some food for thought: are we sometimes too consumed by our busyness that we forget or neglect certain people in our lives?

The Lost Thing explores the theme of belonging, as described by writer Shaun Tan in the video below.

This film emphasises the importance of community.

In Genesis 2:18, "The LORD God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone.'" Rick Warren in The Purpose Driven Life wrote in the second paragraph of Day 17 that "we are created for community, fashioned for fellowship, and formed for a family, and none of us can fulfill God's purposes by ourselves."

This community we have is built upon the church. God sent His son, Jesus, to die for His people, His church, because He loves us deeply. Likewise, we are made to love Him and worship Him as a church.

The church is not simply a building, as most recognise it to be. Rather, it symbolises the body of Christ gathered at a place, a congregation of people who worship God in the name of Jesus.

Our lives should revolve around God and His church. Rick Warren gave an apt summary of how we are involved in church:
worship helps you focus on God;
fellowship helps you face life's problems;
discipleship helps fortify your faith;
ministry helps find your talents;
evangelism helps fulfill your mission.

However, some people say that they love God, but not the church. They love the sermon, but not the worship. They prefer to worship alone. They reason that the people at worship services are too showy and fake, that the praise and worship is not too their liking, etc. This kind of thinking appears to be centred on the self, with the focus placed on personal preference on how the church should fit in with the self.

But, are we not worshiping God, and not men?

While each of us have our own style of worship, we should focus on our personal worship with God in a congregation. Our personal worship should not be affected by how others worship; we are not responsible for their personal worship. Others can inspire ourselves, but their worship should not hinder our own worship.

However, this is not to say that we ignore our brothers or sisters in Christ who are straying from God. We are responsible, not for them, but to them. The Christians in Macedonia "gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us (2 Corinthians 8:5)," and by 'us' means to fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. We are called to bring them back to the right path.

Yet, attending service every Sunday morning as though it is a routine is not enough. Jesus wants to know whether we are putting in all of our hearts, all of our souls, all of our minds and all of our strength (Mark 12:30) to worship Him as His beloved church. This is of utmost importance, and no one will know of how much we worship except for God Himself.

As we head to worship God together at church service this weekend, we should prepare to worship God wholeheartedly. Nonetheless, our worship should not be confined to church service on Sundays alone; every moment of our lives should also be of worship to God! :D

Spirit Touch Your Church

Lord, we need Your grace and mercy
We need to pray like never before
We need the power of Your Holy Spirit
To open heaven's door

Spirit, touch Your Church
Stir the hearts of men
Revive us, Lord
With Your passion once again
I want to care for others
Like Jesus cares for me
Let Your rain fall upon me
Let Your rain fall upon me

Lord, we humbly come before You
We don't deserve of You what we ask
But we yearn to see Your glory
Restore this dying land

Times of Refreshing

2011-05-09T15:30:00.000+08:00

1 John 2:15-17 says,
15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world.
17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

This weekend has not be as eventful as other weekends have been. Rather, I found myself resting more, which is a good change.

At first, I felt empty, because I wasn't as occupied as I was. Then as I read More Than A Carpenter by Josh McDowell (which I have finished today), I was reminded that I should look only to Jesus. It struck me that I can only find peace in Him, and Him alone.

It's great that I only switched on my laptop at 3pm. Usually, I will switch it on first thing in the morning, occupying myself with news, blogs and videos throughout the day. It's a really nice change.

From Day 4 of Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life, I am also reminded that I am made to last forever, not for today nor for tomorrow but for eternity. Amidst our business and day-to-day activities, we need to constantly remind ourselves that we are preparing for an eternity with God.

Let's focus on the love and will of God!

GE 2011 and Beyond

2011-05-08T20:30:00.000+08:00

GE 2011 has come to an end, with the ruling party, PAP, staying in power, taking 81 out of 87 seats. The other 6 seats all went to the same opposition party, the WP. Having said this, where does Singapore go from here?

This election is not an end in itself, but a new beginning, a new chapter in Singapore's political history. In the next five years, I foresee greater political participation by the younger generations. I also foresee the opposition parties gaining new ground through higher quality candidates, who will begin to stand and rise up to the occasion.

At the same time, there will definitely be change: changes to how things are being done, changes to how people think of both the ruling party and the opposition parties, changes to how other countries view Singapore.

I felt and am feeling rather apathetic to all these politics towards the end of this week. Perhaps, it is the weariness from the week full of activities.

We'll see.

Mother's Day

2011-05-07T22:00:00.000+08:00

Tomorrow is Mother's Day.

While there is much joy in celebrating this day with our mothers or with our children, I think it is important to be reminded of the pain that some women face on this day.

I chanced upon a post on Justin Taylor's blog, which linked to a post by Russell Moore. Both of them are pastors in the US.

In his post, Moore highlighted that "Mother’s Day is a particularly sensitive time in many congregations, and pastors and church leaders often don’t even know it." Why?
"Infertile women, and often their husbands, are still often grieving in the shadows."

And the pain is not just for those who cannot have children, but also those who have had, but lost, children. May Jesus' grace rest upon them all.

A response by a wise brother to the post by Moore was also to be noted.

Pastors, if there are two things I would add they would be as follows.

First, please avoid making a distinction between mothers and non-mothers in a physical way (e.g. having all the moms stand up or giving flowers to all the moms). I well remember sitting in a Father’s Day service where all the dads were asked to stand. I felt like there was a huge neon sign over me that kept flashing “not able to have kids, not able to have kids.” My wife felt it keenly as well: she began to weep. The most pastorally sensitive leaders I know avoid this like the plague. Instead, they acknowledge the day and proceed to pray earnestly for the full range of emotions that are being experienced on that day (since it is often quite painful, not just for those unable to have kids, but for those estranged from their moms, those moms who are estranged from their kids, those who have recently lost a mother, etc.).

This leads to the second thing. As Moore indicates, it is important to recognize that there are many conflicting emotions going on during a Mother’s Day service. It is crucially important to pastor all the people through that time. Here is the prayer I would offer on Mother’s Day:

Heavenly Father, on a day like Mother’s Day there are so many different emotions that we bring to you.

Some of us bring emotions of deep gratitude and joy for the mothers you have blessed us with, mothers who have
loved us,
cared for us,
walked with us
and taught us how to live well.

We praise you for such love shown to us through our moms and we pray for all those who are moms, that you would give them:
strength where they are weak,
wisdom where they are unsure,
patience with the many demands placed upon them,
faith in your care for them and their families,
and love—deep love—for those whom you have given them to nurture.

Others of us bring emotions of sadness and pain. Some of us are saddened because our relationship with our mom is not easy, or was not easy, or perhaps never existed at all.

Please
meet us in our pain,
heal our hearts where they are wounded,
soften our hearts where they are hardened,
and enable us to forgive and to love even those who have hurt us.

Others of us are saddened because we long to be moms, long to have children, and yet are not able to do so.

Father of mercies,
give us comfort in our sadness,
trust in you despite unfulfilled longings,
and joy in knowing that you never stop loving us or having our best in mind.

We pray these things to you as our Father, who loved us before the world began, and will love us forevermore.

In Jesus’ name, amen!

And I would like to thank you Mum, for your unending and unwavering support for me over the years. Thank you for your love and patience. :) Happy Mother's Day.

An Urgency

2011-05-07T16:00:00.000+08:00

Thanks for sharing this with me, Tung.

#1: I don't want to collect bad wines.
#2: "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." - Matthew 6:33
#3: I want to be a good servant.

GE 2011: Polling Day

2011-05-07T15:30:00.000+08:00

After writing almost an essay last weekend about GE 2011, and coming back home this weekend to read what others have written, I am amazed at the great analysis youths are capable of. At the same time though, given my fatigue, I honestly couldn't read everything. I also came to a realisation how annoyingly long my own analysis was.

Everyone is talking about CHANGE these days, about TRANSFORMATION, about YOUTH effecting that CHANGE. But political apathy still thrives. People will usually become more concerned only when it directly affects their own livelihood, i.e. their jobs, their flats, their children.

Is it really about Singapore? Perhaps. Perhaps not.

Time and time again, different parties have told citizens: "It is about YOU, not about US. Vote wisely for the party/people who can be YOUR voice." It is confusing. The centre of attention comes to the interests of citizens, but at the same time, the interest of the party or candidates underscores it.

I ask myself why I am interested. I guess, tons of people are excited about it, so I have decided to find out more.

I would simply like to pray today, that voters will vote wisely.

Romans 13:1-7 says,
1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.
4 For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.
6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.
7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

1 Peter 2:13-17 says,
13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority,
14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.
15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.
16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.
17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

GE 2011: Mr George Yeo

2011-05-07T11:45:00.000+08:00

Aljunied GRC: 5 May

Thank you, Mr George Yeo. I thank you for your honesty in recognising the current issues that the ruling party faces.

SONG: Counting on God

2011-05-06T23:55:00.002+08:00

1 Peter 1:8-9 – Though you have not seen him, you love him

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious JOY, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. – 1 Peter 1:8-9 (NIV)

One of the great miracles that we take for granted is that we express a relationship with a God that we have not seen with our physical eyes. For those of us who follow Jesus Christ, we know and believe in an invisible deity with a name, a personality, and an agenda. And what is the result? Joy – inexpressible and glorious joy. When a person turns to the Lord, they immediately realize that they have aligned themselves with all of creation. A love for God and His creation is released that captures our hearts and minds in this life and assures us of the life to come.

Today’s commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, GraceNYC.org

Audrey shared this song with us during focus group discussion at cell group meeting this evening and the lyrics do apply very much to what we've learned today about the joy that we have in Christ!

Joy unspeakable that won't go away
And just enough strength to live for today
So I never have to worry what tomorrow will bring
'Cause my faith is in solid rock
I am counting on God!

Mountbatten SMC: Reviving the Katong Spirit

2011-05-03T20:00:00.001+08:00

Mrs Jeannette Chong from the NSP has revealed her 5-year plan for Mountbatten, called Reviving the Katong Spirit.

I'm really impressed. Mrs Jeannette Chong's 5-year Mountbatten Community Plan details from how she would engage Mountbatten residents as a community, to raising health, financial and legal awareness among residents, and even promoting 'green' living and a greater appreciation for the arts and culture.

I like her ideals. I like her plan. But she doesn't go on to say HOW does she carry out her plan. So, let's take a closer look.

PLAN 1: Set-up an alternate grassroots organisation called ‘residents connect’
This is, to me, just another fanciful name for a Meet-The-People Session. Both function in the same way, and both require an active participation from the residents. Without the residents' participation, 'residents connect' cannot connect with the residents. Perhaps, she would do house-to-house visits to reach out?

PLAN 2: Facilitate and promote open dialogue sessions (town hall meetings)
I like this idea, really. At a town hall meeting, all issues can be aired and discussed by all residents. But I'm not sure how well she can handle this. She likened the informal session she had with Haig Court residents like a town hall meeting. The atmosphere at the informal session was tense, and poorly handled by her assistant, Mr Justin, who was on the verge of exploding. If she and her assistant cannot handle the meeting at the scale of about 100 residents, how will she be able to handle a town hall meeting that caters to ALL Mountbatten residents?

PLAN 3: Partner established agencies to bring career development clinics
PLAN 4: Partner established agencies to bring healthcare awareness and health education
PLAN 5: Partner established agencies to bring financial awareness and education
PLAN 6: Partner established agencies to bring legal awareness and health education
There is a lot of partnering done here. They aim to meet legitimate needs of Mountbatten residents. They sound like an awful lot of work though. With her team, Mrs Jeannette Chong should be able to get all these done. She hasn't considered being a full-time MP though. So, can she?

PLAN 7: Promote zero carbon footprint transportation
Basically, Mrs Jeannette Chong sounds like she is going to promote cycling as a means to achieve a zero carbon footprint. Time to get a bicycle!

PLAN 8: Promote the appreciation of arts, culture and sports
Mrs Jeannette Chong wants to bring vibrancy to the community, fulfill aspirations of the young, and foster have a sense of connectedness among the people to the community and to the nation. That sounds really great! But like I said, how? "Fulfill aspirations of the young"? Wow.

Anyway, I missed yesterday's NSP rally at Mountbatten CC. I was down with food poisoning. Thank you Wang Wei for giving me a ride to the clinic, thank you Tung for accompanying me, thank you Audrey, Sheila, Eileen, Patricia and Joshua was being there for me! :) I thought it was funny when I said in the car yesterday: "Nicole isn't worth my stomach."

Finally, the PAP have decided to have a rally at Mountbatten CC. When? Tomorrow night. Oh well. I shall look forward to news online, and the video on ge.sg.

GE 2011: Impressive Rally Speeches

2011-05-03T14:30:00.001+08:00

Aljunied GRC: 30 April

Mr Chin Harn Tong was the second last speaker at the rally. He was the PAP MP for Aljunied from 1972 to 1996, and held appointments as Political Secretary, Parliamentary Secretary and Senior Parliamentary Secretary between 1976 and 1988. He was referred to as PAP's secret weapon. Perhaps?

Aljunied GRC: 30 April

Many have said that no one is indispensable. I think so too. But Mr George Yeo is an example of a minister who is LESS dispensable than others. He is truly a minister who serves, who has the citizens' interests at heart. While the opposition beat their wardrums, Mr George Yeo spoke of sincerity and honesty, of love and concern for the average citizen, and ultimately, of securing our future together.

Bukit Panjang SMC: 2 May

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan has explained the working of our economy in simple economics terms, which I believe is crucial to help Singaporeans understand that raising wages, making HDB flats more afforable and reducing costs of living are not as simple as they seem to be. To me, if they were really that simple, any Junior College student having been through the A Levels Economics syllabus could solve the problems too.

Reading through reports of rally speeches on Channel News Asia, I am surprised by the many claims by various Opposition parties to cut this and cut that, reduce this and slash that. The MPs of the ruling party are there to make decisions, but those who formulate these policies and do all the research are our civil servants in the civil service. Don't discount their contributions by throwing in all sorts of policies that sound nice and appeal to the masses.

Aljunied GRC: 2 May

Ms Sylvia Lim, WP chairman, asked voters, "Do you remember GE 1991?" She's good. She brought in history. She argued that voting the Opposition would serve as a "wake-up call" to the PAP.

Mr Low Thia Kiang, WP chief, also 'echoed Ms Lim's statement that a strong Opposition in Parliament is ultimately good for Singaporeans "so that it (the Government) will respect the wishes of the people, make and implement policies carefully".'

If voting WP means giving PAP a "wake-up call" while losing a team of good ministers, especially the Foreign Minister, I would think twice. Is a strong Opposition really necessary? In Parliament, it doesn't mean that ministers from the same party all vote for the same cause. That is why there is extensive debate in the Parliament. With or without the Opposition, different ministers have different viewpoints and should debate different policies in Parliament.

Mr Lee Hsien Loong has reiterated that "a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) has virtually the same say in Parliament as any other MP. They campaigned and were voted in; they can debate any issue and introduce Bills. The only thing they can’t do is vote on Constitutional amendments, money bills and confidence votes. They can participate in 95 per cent of parliamentary debates."

I found it odd that both Mr Low Thia Kiang and Mr Chiam See Tong, having been in Parliament for many years, have not raised this fact up. They have been saying that the Opposition in Parliament are incapable of voting for many issues. Are they trying to hide it, so that Singaporeans will think that Opposition quantity in Parliament can guarantee more votes and debates on issues? Mr Low Thia Kiang has also said that if he did not win Aljunied GRC, he would not become an NCMP. It is almost as if by this decision, Singaporeans are forced to put him in Parliament to ensure that the Opposition is in Parliament.

Emotions are high in this General Elections.

For some humour, here is Mr Brown's 'Gee' parody on the General Elections. It is quite apt of the entire GE 2011. Nonetheless, this parody video seems to reflect a new generation of Singaporeans who are concerned about themselves and not the country. In comparison to other people around the world, we Singaporeans need to realise how fortunate we are. I'm not saying that we should simply be content and not do anything about it. Things could be better than they seem now, but we need to be more discerning towards what different parties offer and not let our emotions take over.

Mountbatten SMC: PAP vs. NSP

2011-05-02T17:20:00.000+08:00

After Mrs Jeannette Chong's informal session with the Haig Court residents yesterday, I would really like to hear from Mr Lim Biow Chuan, the incumbent PAP MP of Mountbatten SMC. I hope he makes a trip here before I book into camp on Tuesday night.

I happened to chance upon NewNation's coverage on Mountbatten SMC, and its Q&A session it had with both Mr Lim Biow Chuan and Mrs Jeannette Chong.

As much as I have mentioned yesterday about Mrs Jeannette Chong, I figured that it is not a balanced argument without Mr Lim Biow Chuan speaking to the residents. For this, I would like to applaud Mrs Jeannette Chong for her effort and initiative to reach out to all Mountbatten residents.

There is going to be an NSP rally for Mountbatten SMC at the open field opposite Mountbatten CC tonight at 7pm. I am not particularly enthused by it, but my friends and I are heading there anyway. 35 Jalan Satu, here we come!

Which Ministry?

2011-05-02T16:30:00.002+08:00

A few posts back, I blogged about self-righteous service versus true service.

"True service is indiscriminate in its ministry."

This phrase spoke a lot to me. For a long time, I've been thinking of serving in church. The question is, which ministry?

To be honest, I was waiting on God to speak to me, to give me some direction, to tell me what to do. But I figured that He just wasn't going to do that, not in a "Matthew, you should serve in THIS ministry," or "Matthew, I send you to THAT ministry." Instead, it was in His time to impress on me the different ministries that are open, the different needs of the church, and let me decide. God gave us the freedom of choice, and He wants me to exercise it.

A couple of weeks ago, Rev Dr Wee Boon Hup preached on "3G". "3G" does not refer to 3G communications; rather, he refers "3G" to having three generations of Christians, the first generation being able to pass on the faith and knowledge not only to the second, but also to and beyond the third generation. Perhaps God planted the thought in me to consider youth ministry, because I felt strongly about the importance of reaching out to youths. As a youth myself, I believe that this phase in life is very crucial, when our hearts and minds are capable of being moulded, of being malleable to the Word of God.

Therefore, I asked Tung whether I could sit in for 5612 Ministry, which I did at the 8am 5612 Service. It was a good experience. Nonetheless, I was reminded starkly of the verse "the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few." (Luke 10:2)

Today, after visiting SKS Bookstore, we headed to AMK for lunch. God, You are really quite amazing, but at the same time, quite unfathomable. Over lunch, I received Wee Peng's message to consider Usher Ministry, and subsequently, Davinia asked me to consider sitting in for 123 Ministry, and also consider Children's Ministry.

I am simply overwhelmed by the number of doors that are open to me. I need to pray about all of these options.

Oh Father, please guard me against losing sight of what You have set out for us to do. As in Mark 12:30, You have commanded us to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." May my service be not for my glory, but Yours!

Mountbatten SMC: Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss

2011-05-01T23:00:00.001+08:00

Today, Mrs Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss came to have an informal session with the residents of Haig Court, the condominium where I'm staying now.

She was accompanied by her campaign manager and assistants, fellow party members, and even Mr Ravi Philemon, editor at The Online Citizen, who was there to support her personally.

I was clearly excited when I got to know that Mrs Jeannette Chong was coming to my place! Tung was there too. After an hour of hot debate (or sort of), I can just say that I'm slightly disappointed. She's good, but, not good enough.

For one, Mrs Jeannette Chong could not hold her ground as I thought she could as a lawyer. I probably expected her to be more eloquent, more composed, more "well-thought" in Tung's words. However, instead of defending herself fully, she allowed her fellow campaigners to step in on her behalf, perhaps sidelining her, painting a picture that she's not in control. I would like my MP to be someone who is able to stand up for his/herself.

Secondly, she doesn't sound like she is ready to become an MP for Mountbatten. When asked where she will get her funds to fund her various projects and her Mountbatten plan that she intends to unveil tomorrow or Tuesday, she cited fellow lawyers who are friends, some others, and even calling upon former Mountbatten independent candidate Mr Kannappan Chettiar who "could" support her cause. "Could" is not the most certain answer I would like to hear from a candidate who is going to be my next MP.

On why she defected from Reform Party (RP) to National Solidarity Party (NSP), Mrs Jeannette Chong did not quite answer it herself. The moderator of the session, Mr Justin, who is also a fellow party member, interceded for her, repeatedly saying that the issue is like "water under the bridge" and there were differences in ideology and methodology. According to Tung (I don't quite remember this part), in essence she even mentioned that WP and NSP are the same, just that their working styles are different. Ultimately, Mrs Jeannette Chong did not show much sense of party unity. She consistently mentioned "NSP's manfesto", which I thought seemed like she wanted to distant herself from NSP. If she said, "OUR manifesto" instead, by claiming it as a party, she could strike a different chord.

Yet, to contradict herself, Mrs Jeannette Chong replied to a question asking her why join NSP and not other opposition parties, that the other parties, namely Workers' Party (WP) and Singapore People's Party (SPP), had Mr Low Thia Kiang and Mr Chiam See Tong in parliament already. NSP does not have a seat, and so she felt that NSP should also have a seat in parliament. This came across as her simply trying to get into parliament, and perhaps, the more opposition in the parliament, the better? The more alternative voices, the better? But, does more voices equal to better policies being implemented?

I think the funniest segment of the session was when a resident asked Mrs Jeannette Chong on her take on the government's decision to build the 2 IRs. She replied with hesitation, "Of course not la!" She tried to add in humour by saying the government said it would only build one IR but then after came two! Anyway, she just doesn't have a strong opinion on the issue on the casinos and IRs, and probably wasn't prepared to answer the question. As a lawyer or at least my future MP, she could at least have done a bit more homework, to earnestly fight for issues that truly impact the ordinary citizen. Worse, she forgot NSP's manifesto a couple of times.

It is unfortunate, though normal, that Mrs Jeannette Chong appeared to be nervous, inexperienced and ill-prepared. She has only been in politics for 2 years, having joined in mid-2009.

I must give her credit for personally writing to the condominium management to seek approval to meet with us residents. Effort marks, really.

I also like the way Mrs Jeannette Chong challenged to foster active citizenry through more common town hall discussions similar to this session, against the conventional Meet-The-People Sessions. Midway, I got lost in her words though. She talked about citizens being a pushing force to reach the authorities with their cause, and she would bring them to the citizens to question him why certain policies are not implemented or not working. Honestly, I don't know what she's saying, really. I want to elaborate on this point, but I keep deleting, because I don't know what to say. Fail.

I had a list of questions to ask Mrs Jeannette Chong. In the end, I did not ask even a single one. The questions posed by the other residents were too good. Most of my questions were answered in some way or another, but new questions arose. Why did NSP want to reduce NS from 24 months to 15? Why downsize the Army? Why subsidise transport costs? Why freeze rents? I need to do my homework!

Amidst the tension in the room throughout the session, it ended on a bright note. The chairman of the management committee commended Mrs Jeannette Chong on her sincerity in writing in, unlike PAP that tried to write in through the RC. This followed by applause.

About close to a hundred residents attended the session. I'm surprised at the level of political interest that Singaporeans have. Present were the residents mostly aged between 30 to 50, some old enough to be my grandparents, and also a small group of young adults, us being the youngest.

I believe we need to keep the nation in prayer, to pray for wisdom and discernment of our political leaders. I think we need to look beyond our self interests (not that our needs are not important), and put the nation before ourselves. As the saying goes, 没有国哪有家，没有家哪有我.

Taking A Pinch of Salt

2011-04-30T13:00:00.003+08:00

Amidst the furore and heated exchange at public rallies, online forums and social networking websites, we ought to take a pinch of salt out of everything, to sit down and think through what they mean for the individual, and to analyse whether they are for the best interests: FIRST for the nation, THEN the individual.

I'm surprised at myself for the level of interest I have in GE 2011. I can't even vote yet! (I'm a year short of age.) If somebody were to ask me why I am so interested, I probably won't be able to answer. "I don't know what to say!"

The GE 2011 has almost descended into some sort of serial drama, or concert. Like some of my friends put it, it has the plot, the characters, the setting, the camera. All it needs is a proper broadcast and producer!

I don't particularly support any party. I think I'd prefer to be a civil servant any time, as compared to be involved in all these messy politics.

Here is but a few issues that make me tick recently.

In this xinmsn article, WP pretty much shot back at everything PAP said. It seems quite valid to me. It is unfortunate that PAP has to shoot itself in the leg while trying to defend itself.

Whether it is about the voters' interests, or about "not rocking the foundation", shouldn't we question where this "status quo" has gotten us today? Shouldn't we be doing something about the "status quo" that has bred an atmosphere of apathy and laziness among Singaporeans and dependency on the PAP to solve all our problems?

Nonetheless, as much as we want a change in the status quo, we can't just lump all of the opposition together and say, "Hey as long as I vote for the opposition, they can solve my problems!" I don't think it is that simple. The government can solve and alleviate our problems, but it is not all-powerful, it is not God. It is not capable of doing everything you want it to do.

People keep complaining about the rising costs of living etc. Their complaints are warranted; they are after all bread-and-butter issues that concern every Singaporean. But costly housing, rising food prices, flooding of our roads, and the influx of foreigners aren't issues that the government has complete control over.

Prices of housing are market-based: the government can't just intervene and change the prices as and when it likes. In the face of the new global climate, with natural disasters and financial instability, our food (mostly imported) will of course be affected. One can't expect the prices of commodities to be the same 30 years ago as compared to now either.

Flooding at Orchard Road and wherever else being a 1-in-50-years event can't exactly be blamed on the government. I don't think it makes sense for the government to be spending all our taxpayers' money just to protect ourselves against events that happen once every SO LONG. What we can do is mitigate, and not come up with a fool-proof plan to prevent every disaster from happening. Be thankful we don't have hurricanes, earthquakes and volcanoes already.

The issue of foreigners is the most sensitive. It flames nationalistic sentiments. But we seriously should ask ourselves, aren't we immigrants in the past ourselves? I was born in Hong Kong, but came to Singapore as a kid. It has been awkward growing up in limbo: I don't really know whether I should be called a Singaporean or a Hong Konger sometimes. But having spent about the last 20 years in Singapore, I do call this place home.

Isn't Singapore a cosmopolitan country? Yes, the Chinese are the majority, but Singapore does accept people of other races and religions too. That is what makes Singapore unique: a true melting pot of people and cultures. We can't just say, "Now, every time I take the train, it feels like I’m in a different country. It is like taking a holiday, I don’t even need to bring my passport."

Singaporeans losing jobs to foreigners comes as a tacky issue. I'm still pondering over this. Who wouldn't feel sad if he lost his job to a non-Singaporean because the company could pay the other less? Unfortunately, it is a realistic world. But I very much appreciate the fact that there are skills upgrading programmes to allow Singaporeans to improve and value-add themselves, to give them a chance to vie for hopefully better-paying jobs.

In another article, SDP exclaims, "What is wrong with our education system?" From what I know, Singapore has one of the best education systems in the world, and we boast a literacy rate of 95%. SDP suggests downsizing classes. Of course that'd be good! Even I love my classes to be small, so that my teachers can provide more attention to students. But, like in many fields (such as ministry work), "the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few." (Luke 10:2) The job of a teacher ain't easy. If on May 7, the government decides to downsize every class, not only do we have a shortage of teachers to fill in all the classes, but we also do not have enough classrooms. Perhaps the government will start building schools upwards, and in the future, my children will climb 10 stories to reach their classroom. Nice.

Improvements can of course be made to our education system, but in an increasingly competitive world that we live in today, matched with insufficient resources and facilities, simply shouting "How come after over 50 years of PAP rule we still have 40 students in a class and not 20 students in a class — as in a First World nation? I feel so sad that the system has deteriorated." shows how much consideration one has put into the debate.

A minimum wage system. No go. In economics class, we have learned that implementing a minimum wage is akin to causing people to lose their jobs. "This is because a greater number of workers are willing to work at the higher wage while a smaller numbers of jobs will be available at the higher wage." (refer to Wikipedia) In other words, from the company's perspective, I would hire someone of better qualification and experience to fill in a job that is previously held by someone who may not have equal qualification or experience but is willing to work for less. This would probably lead to the unemployment of a lot of people, especially the lower-skilled.

There are many arguments for and against implementing a minimum wage system. To me, it might seem that everyone in the workforce will get paid a minimum wage, but there might be the case where companies choose not to hire them at all. Furthermore, implementing a minimum wage for workers translates to higher production costs for companies. Notwithstanding a overhaul to the current wage system, Singapore, being a small, open, market-based economy made up of mostly SMEs, would be seriously hurt by a minimum wage system. SMEs will bear the brunt of these rising costs and to cut costs, they will simply hire more competent workers. With this increase in demand for competent workers, wages for the higher-skilled increase.

This socialist approach, on the contrary, will leave Singapore with higher unemployment and a wider income gap. Isn't this what Singapore wants to avoid, accentuating the "haves" and the "have-nots"?

"And if you think a minimum wage is going to bankrupt our economy, 173 countries of the world have minimum wage. China has a minimum wage. We can afford to pay our young people and hardworking elders enough money for them to live, not just to survive." Let's face it, Singapore isn't any other country. It doesn't mean that if every other country has minimum wage, Singapore has to have minimum wage. Hong Kong faces the same issue, too. "We can afford"? Who is "We"? The government isn't going to fund everyone's wages. The companies do that.

This has been very intense. I'm going to take a break.

First and Foremost a Christian

2011-04-29T23:55:00.004+08:00

There were just too many things happening the past week, both internally and externally. I was distraught, and perhaps disillusioned too.

I don't think I consider myself an emotional wreck, but my emotions were in for a roller coaster ride this week. One moment I was at peace, and I was traumatised the next. Having entered some sort of depressed state on Wednesday (odd for a book-out day), I am thankful for God's faithfulness. He lifted me up when I wallowed in the depths of helplessness.

Not only did God reach to me through a time of fellowship with Wang Wei, but He also helped me to reflect on my past, to challenge the roots of recently surfaced problems that I thought were solved after accepting Christ. In the midst of this new exploration in my walk with God, I feel awed by His omnipotence.

It's like in Proverbs 3:5-6, which says,

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will make your paths straight.

All of a sudden, these two verses seem so real to me. I've known these two verses for a long time, and it sure took me long enough to finally realise their meaning.

I'm sorry, Father. I'm so, so sorry, for not trusting in You. Instead, I chose to place my trust in other people, in other things, and all I got was heartbreak. It hurt, but thank You for drawing me back to You.

Ben Wee also reminded me that we are First and Foremost Christians, not a sergeant, not a platoon sergeant, not an NSF. Caught up in all the rules and regulations and regimentation of the army, I've lost myself. It is a timely reminder of 1 John 3:16, which says,

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.
And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

This evening Forerunners 3 (F3) began a new study called The Fruit of the Spirit and we studied the first fruit: Love. In 1 John 4:7-16, the Bible says,

7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.
Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
9 This is how God showed His love among us:
He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.
10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.
13 We know that we live in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.
14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.
15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.
16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

I've been struggling with this for about the past month: the issue of incorporating Christian values into my role as a commander. But God has made it very clear. Verse 11 says, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

How, then, should I love? 1 Corinthians 13:4-17 lists:

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Let me live in You, God, and You in me. For You are love, and so, I love.

As Sunday approaches, let me not attend church service for the sake of attending. It may be a routine, but let me be there to genuinely praise and worship You with the rest of Your Church!

Grant me a true heart of worship. Help me come back to the true heart of worship!

When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless Your heart
I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus

King of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve
Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breath
I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
And it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus

Not To Be Served, But To Serve

2011-04-28T23:55:00.000+08:00

Matthew 20:25-28
Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave — just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Self Righteous Service vs. True Service
From A Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster

Self-righteous comes through human effort.
True service comes from a relationship with God.

Self-righteous service is impressed with the "big deal."
True service finds it almost impossible to distinguish the small from the large service.

Self-righteous service requires external rewards.
True service rest contended in hiddenness.

Self-righteous service is highly concerned about results.
True service is free of the need to calculate results.

Self-righteous service picks and choose whom to serve.
True service is indiscriminate in its ministry.

Self-righteous service is affected by moods and whims.
True service ministers simply and faithfully because there is a need.

Self-righteous service is temporary.
True service is lifestyle.

Self-righteous service is without sensitivity.
True service can withhold the service as freely as perform it.

Self-righteous service fractures community.
True service, one other hand, build community.

SONG: Take Me Away

2011-04-27T22:40:00.004+08:00

Isaiah 53:5
But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.

Hear Your voice
A gentle whisper
Calls from deep whithin

On my knees my heart it cries out
I'm longing to draw near

Hide me now under the shadow of Your wings
Lord into Your presence I will run

Take me away with You
I wanna be close to You
Take me away into the secret place

Take me into Your arms
Here in your presence I belong
Take me away into the secret place

Let Your glory fill this place
Oh God Oh God
Fill this place

Take me away with You
I wanna be close to You
Take me away into the secret place

Take me into Your arms
Here in Your presence I belong
Take me away into the secret place

Ohhh Lord
The secret place
Wanna go there with You
The secret place
Ohh won't You take me there Lord
The secret place

SONG: Whom Shall I Fear

2011-04-10T15:00:00.000+08:00

Because I know You live
I'll put my faith in this
That You hear my call
Lord You hear me calling
Because I know You live
I'll set my heart on this
You won't let me fall
When all else is falling

When all You are is glorious Oh God
Victorious and strong
Whom shall I fear
When all You are is powerful and true
And good in all You do
Whom shall I fear
Whom shall I fear

Because You're on my side
I won't believe the lie
That I'm all alone
I'm not all alone here
Because You live in me
My heart will still believe
That You came to save
And You'll come to save me

I know You're with me in the fire
You never leave me in the flame
I know Your thoughts are so much higher
And all Your ways are not my ways

You are for me
You came to save me
You will never let me go
In my heart I'll always know

I know that You are for me
I know that You are for me
I know that that you will never forsake me in my weakness
I know that You have come now even if to write upon my heart
To remind me who You are

Unexpected Takeaways

2011-04-09T15:15:00.001+08:00

Perhaps this week passed too quickly. But, thank God for times of refreshing when I managed to spend some quiet time in the evenings. Thank God also for Your sustenance and providence through our training, rehearsals, parade, and exercise. Help us to continue to see You in times when things are not the most positive.

Through talks and sharing by various individuals, I am reminded of the importance of understanding. Through explanation and elaboration of events, ideals and values, people receiving instructions and thereby executing them will be able to see the 'bigger picture', motivating them to accomplish their tasks.

Alas, no one is perfect. But it is through imperfection that we are called to imitate Christ.

During cell group meeting last night, when SC talked about spiritual gifts, I thought it was helpful for us to identify with our own gifting that You have blessed us with. The next step would definitely be to glorify You, developing these gifts to their fullest potential. Help my unbelief, will my lack of motivation and rid my laziness!

After a late night of preparation and research, I've made it to a heritage tour organised by Professor Yeo Kang Shua from SUTD, called the Explorations of Colonial Singapore. Students could volunteer and then research on one of the sites/structures mentioned below:
1. St Andrew’s Cathedral
2. City Hall
3. Old Supreme Court
4. Padang
5. Tan Kim Seng Fountain, Cenotaph & Lim Bo Seng Memorial
6. Anderson Bridge & Cavenagh Bridge
7. Victoria Concert Hall and Theatre
8. Empress Place Building (Asian Civilisations Museum)
9. Fullerton Building (Fullerton Hotel)

Thank You, God, for the good weather, for the time of interaction and learning! I researched on the Old Supreme Court. It would have been more wholesome if I researched on the City Hall and the Padang as well, though.

Through this session, I learned more about the historic background of these various landmarks in our CBD area. I can better appreciate these buildings for their significance in shaping our nationhood.

I leave my future course in Your hands, Father, for You have plans for me, plans to prosper me and not to harm me, to give me HOPE and a FUTURE.

Imitators of God

2011-04-01T23:30:00.000+08:00

Ephesians 5:1-2 says,
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

This verse spoke a lot to me this week, especially because of the way I reacted to events that had happened in camp. More often than not, I have been easily angered and impatient with my peers. None of my actions reflected God's love.

God, forgive me.

Yes, I know I am forgiven. But may I practise what I preach, and not commit the same mistakes again.

As Christians, we are called to be perfect. We may be imperfect, but no one said that we would be perfect by being Christians. What is special about us Christians is that we choose to continue to seek that perfection that is in Christ.

In this sense, non-believers have this common misconception about Christians, thinking that by being Christians, we MUST be perfect and all-holy. No, we aren't.

BUT. We try to be. We make that effort to be perfect. After making mistakes and committing sins, we know that by repenting, we are forgiven. We are then called to make the radical, courageous decision to change our ways and become a better person for God.

Having been there, having done that, I know it isn't easy. It shouldn't be anyway. James 1:2-4 says,
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Romans 5:3-5 says,
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Forerunners 3

2011-03-19T18:30:00.001+08:00

Cell yesterday helped me to understand more what it was about. After joining for a couple of months, last night truly gave me a better understanding of Forerunners 3.

VISION: Matthew 5:16
"Let our light SHINE BEFORE MEN, that they may see our good deeds and praise our Father in Heaven."

This really challenges me personally. While "letting our light shine before men" is a duty to all Christians, I believe God has placed me in a position that I'm under quite a fair bit of scrutiny in the things I do. It is an uphill task to honour God and remember to base my decisions by Him.

This week, in particular, has been a rough journey with God. From a heart of fire for God, I took a sudden plunge to neutrality and uncertainty. I would say deja vu because it has happened before, though not with the same circumstances, and I was labelled by my friends as being especially "emo".

With a waning passion and discipline, I am losing my perseverance. Lacking faith, I am becoming indecisive, skeptical and unwilling to take on new tasks.

But "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:37-39)

Once again, draw me closer to You, Lord.

Jesus Christ, I think upon Your sacrifice
You became nothing, poured out to death
Many times I've wondered at Your gift of life
And I'm in that place once again
I'm in that place once again

And once again I look upon the cross where You died
I'm humbled by Your mercy and I'm broken inside
Once again I thank You
Once again I pour out my life

Now You are exalted to the highest place
King of the heavens, where one day I'll bow
But for now, I marvel at Your saving grace
And I'm full of praise once again
I'm full of praise once again

Thank You for the cross
Thank You for the cross
Thank You for the cross, my Friend

NatGeo: Is That a Banana in Your Water?

2011-03-19T17:00:00.002+08:00

New science shows peels can remove heavy metals from water.

A banana plantation in Costa Rica.

Christina DiPaola

Anne Minard

for National Geographic News

Published March 11, 2011

This story is part of a National Geographic News series on global water issues.

Banana peels are no longer just for composting or comedy shows: New science shows they can pull heavy metal contamination from river water.

Metals such as lead and copper are introduced to waterways from a variety of sources, including agricultural runoff and industrial wastes. Once there, heavy metals can contaminate soils and pose health risks to humans and other species. Lead is known to affect the brain and nervous system.

Traditionally, water quality engineers have used silica, cellulose, and aluminum oxide to extract heavy metals from water, but these remediation strategies come with high price tags and potentially toxic side effects of their own. They work as extractors due to the presence of acids such as those found in the carboxylic and phenolic groups, which attract metal ions.

Bananas, on the other hand, appear to be a safe solution. Banana peels also outperform the competition, says Gustavo Castro, a researcher at the Biosciences Institute at Botucatu, Brazil, and a coauthor of a new study on this new use of the fruit’s peel.

For the study, Castro and his team dried and ground banana peels, then combined them in flasks of water with known concentrations of metals. They also built water filters out of peels and pushed water through them.

In both scenarios, “the metal was removed from the water and remained bonded to the banana peels,” Castro said, adding that the extraction capacity of banana peels exceeded that of other materials used to remove heavy metals.

Previous work has shown that other plant parts—including apple and sugar cane wastes, coconut fibers, and peanut shells—can remove potential toxins from water.

Don’t Try This at Home

Castro doesn’t advise the use of banana peels for home water purification. For starters, the concentration of heavy metals in tap water is usually negligible. Also, while putting banana peels in contact with water will likely remove some metals, the average person isn’t likely to be able to measure success.

Castro said his study findings are most likely to be useful in industrial settings.

The new study appears in Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, a journal of the American Chemical Society.

Reinventing Education

2011-03-12T14:40:00.001+08:00

Shared by Tung, I felt that this TED video has inspired me.

It was a choice, and perhaps, will be a choice in the future.

God Is At Work!

2011-03-12T12:00:00.000+08:00

I'm truly thankful for what God can do and has done.

On Thursday, the group of us in camp gathered together for a time of fellowship, worship and prayer. I had a lot of uncertainties before I suggested it to my friends earlier in the week, and by God's provision, the response was very enthusiastic!

Thank You God. Thank You for opening our hearts. Thank You for providing us with the environment, the peace, and understanding from our friends in camp even as we come together to pray in quietness. I am reminded, as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:7, "So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow." Humble me, and mould us!

Thank you Mark, for leading us in worship! Thank you Joel for your initiative to 'take minutes' and write down each and every one's prayer requests! Thank you Ryan and Bernard for your willingness to come!

Ignite/Reignite that passion in us for You, oh God. I'm further inspired as I read Your Word: "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:20)

His Word

2011-03-08T19:00:00.001+08:00

This is a video from Joshua Harris' blog.

I'm filled with joy, and yet at the same time, shame. The Kimyals from Indonesia have finally received God's Word in their language last year, and look at the way they rejoice!

The Bible today is so accessible to all of us, and yet we so often take it for granted.

God, help us to cherish this gift You have given us.

Dream BIG!

2011-03-07T22:00:00.001+08:00

I'd like to share with you Cody's story, which I came across on FB by Marcus (See), one of my cellgroup leaders.

Cody's achievements and optimism have brought a smile to my face. Amen, because regardless of the circumstances you are in today, know that God will help you overcome them!

May this be an encouragement to everyone, especially to those of you who just got your A Level results, and to those who are facing some sort of difficulty in life or even failures. Take heart, because God will lift you up!