Life, Travel, GRACE

Last Sunday's sermon was about how to achieve happiness in Christ. All the while we have been  portraying Christ as a savior dying for our sins on the cross. This have been translated into images or paintings of Jesus (i.e. Jesus on the cross). But why not we visualize Christ as a happy person. In fact, he rejoices in God. Surely his face should be radiant and showing happiness. Otherwise, children won't come near to Jesus. Thus, a laughing Jesus should brighten the day. Then I was constantly at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence...Proverbs 8:30 (NIV)

"For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6 NKJV) The message shared by the pastor in this Christmas is centered around who Jesus is. He is called: 1. Wonderful; as demonstrated by His power. "One day Jesus cast out a demon from a man who couldn't speak, and when the demon was fone, the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed." (Luke 11:14 NLT) 2. Counselor; where He speaks with authority. ""We have never heard anyone speak like this!" the guards responded." (John 7:46 NLT) 3. The Mighty God. "The Father and I are one."" (John 10.:30 NLT) 4. The Everlasting Father. "In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was c...

Not long ago, there was this sermon about how are we suppose to view and respond the end of times. Read Matthew 24:3-14 It might not be a good sermon at this time, as most of us are still have a good life in this country (aside from the volatile market and political issues). But it did bring a good reminder for the Christians, especially. We need to live as if the end is coming. Based on this Scriptures, some signs of the second coming of Christ: Deceiving (v4-5) Wars (v6) But end is still to come (v6) Nation will rise against nation (v7)  Kingdom against kingdom (v7) Famines (v7) Earthquakes in various places (v7) But all these are only the first of the birth pains, with more to come (v8). Let's examine some of these signs: - Disasters around the world: There were many earthquakes reported in the recent years - South Sumatra, Indonesia (2007) 8.5 Richter scale; Sichuan, China (2008) 8.0; Chile (2010) 8.8 and the recent one, Nepal (2015) 7.9 with...

I had this sermon in Mega Church today. Couldn't agree more on the sermon. All in all, Christians should continue to be joyful, praise God and be thankful in the world of chaos. God is still in control and He knows the timing. Psalm 146 1  Praise the  Lord . Praise the  Lord ,  my soul. 2  I will praise the  Lord  all my life;      I will sing praise  to my God as long as I live. 3  Do not put your trust in princes,      in human beings,  who cannot save. 4  When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;      on that very day their plans come to nothing. 5  Blessed are those  whose help  is the God of Jacob,      whose hope is in the  Lord  their God. 6  He is the Maker of heaven  and earth,      the sea, and everything in them—      he remains f...

Adapted from Graceworks eCommentary 20/14 Many of us are very upset and pained by the recent decision of the Malaysian apex court on the “Allah” issue. We see this decision not so much as a loss for Malaysian Christians but as a betrayal by the government of the day and the highest court of the land — well, at least four of the seven judges — to protect and apply the constitution, which in this case leaves non-Muslim minorities in the land vulnerable to the dictates of the increasingly aggressive Islam championed by growing numbers in the country. How do we respond when evil wins? This is a question the Bible takes seriously. It is the focus of Psalm 73. In the face of the triumph of evil, the Psalmist says: Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence. All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments. (Psalm 73:13–14 NIV) Here is Craig C. Boyles’ useful introduction to the Psalm: This Psalm is a favouri...

Today we were privileged to have David B. to share some updates at the rally. Haven’t heard his sharing for quite some time (I think almost a decade more), today sharing was quite inspiring and interesting. As he returned to Singapore, he’s been thinking how to move the gospel effectively. There are two platforms he has in mind: a muslim-christian dialogue and story telling. Well, he shared the latter part (maybe we will have chance to hear the former in near future?). The thought of story telling began when he and his discovered that the way of his bible study sharing was monotonous and boring. So to make things interesting, one must tell story, like Jesus told story when he was teaching. And he joined a story telling club, which at that time most of the members were female. Not surprising as most storytellers are mothers and early childhood educators.   Later on, the group joined a story telling competition. Other contestants chose popular Chinese fore-lore but David chose...

We had a rally at the Nav office last weekend. Wency from the Philippines Nav shared on his community team setup and lesson learnt. He called it a missional community. In brief, a community should have three elements. The foremost is that a community should be relational. The members in the community should have a transformational life as well. That's the second element. In other words, one couple or family has the influence of transforming other member's life especially in spiritual life. Lastly, a community should be missional. Members need to relate to outsiders as part of their missional work. So one does not need to go out from his or her comfort zone to be a mission worker. How's your community life sound like?

Today most Christians celebrate Easter Sunday. This is the day where Jesus is risen. One of the local churches chose heaven as the theme of this year Easter Sunday. Well, in John 14:1-7, 1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”   5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”   6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:1-7. So Jesus was comforting the people. He comforted us by telling us that there's a ho...

9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ Matt 6:9-13 Verse 12 gives guidance how should we deal with other people. The basic relationship is forgiveness. Teach our children that forgiveness is the basic to the heart of God. There's a story about forgiveness - the parable of the unforgiving debtor as in Matt 18:21-35. Teach them to forgive, to confess their sins and recognize the forgiveness that God has given us through Jesus Christ. As a reminder, resentment will hurt our children. Educating children to forgive is paramount (Phil 4:7). We close this with God's provision and protection as in verse 13 that God is our protector and solution provider. Teach our children to ask for bl...

How should we educate our children based on the Lord's Prayer? 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ Matt 6:9-13 We first teach our children that God is our heavenly Father (Matt 6:9). This is the first step to cultivate a sense of security in the children. This same verse also set the ground of teaching children to honor God. In verse 10, we are to instill God's purpose in our children. As we come to verse 11, we are reminded to teach our children that God is our provider. God provides our physical, emotional and spiritual needs. How then should we educate our children to respond to God's provision? We teach them to share, trust and give thanks to God's provision.

I read Luke 12:22-34 again. This is not the first time I read it. It is said that God will provide us. Interestingly, this time verse 34 got my attention. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. So if we treasure gold, there our heart will be. We will think about it day and night. Worry if someone will steal it. If we treasure life, there our heart will be. We think about people we love and care. We pray for their blessing. So what are the things that sit in your heart and become your treasure? Financial providence, life and all the nitty-gritty? Note: I just realized this is the 500th entry. Time flies. Lately have been writing less frequent. Hope will share more insightful thought in future writing.

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matt 5:13-16 It was said that in order to share the Good News, one must experience the transformation himself first. He/she should experience what is like in trusting God. And of course, to confirm if that person really lives in God, one can ask the people around him. The closest people to testify will be immediate family members and friends. Thus, the sharing of Good News starts within the family or close friends circle. No need to go to further places for eva...

On last March 13, Dr Jerry White was in town to minister a rally. The turn out of the rally was amazing. Just because the speaker is a foreigner, so people are eager to come? Anyway, he taught us about the life of Joseph from the book of Genesis. The title of the rally was "The Joseph Road". This is also a title of his book. I must say the book is well written. If you've missed out this rally, fear not, you can read the book instead. He delivered the same content but in a condensed way. The Joseph Road is about the choices that determine your destiny. He pointed out our life may not turn out to be the way we expect. This is certainly differ from our dreams and hopes. But what does God have to do with it?

Last Sunday, we attended a teacher session by Teng Yang on discovering God from the life of David. The speaker brought us to see the content of the book of Samuel. Briefly we were told the life of David and his surrounding events and peoples. That was very brief and easy to follow. The history lesson led us to study Psalms written by David. Psalm 23 is somehow very special. It can be used in good time and bad time. The psalm was probably composed around the time when David was selected to be future king by Samuel (when Samuel went to Jesse's house). Each phrase in Psalm 23 has attribute of God. The audience were inspired to explore each of the phrase. And the session was indeed inspiring. Psalm 23 1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, a]">[ a ] I will fear no evil,...

Because reading the Scriptures without reflecting is like eating without chewing... Sometimes we read because we thought we ought to. At the end we learn nothing from it. There's God in every page of the Scriptures. Do not miss him. Psalm 63 1 You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. 2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. 3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. 4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. 5 I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. 6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. 7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. 8 I cling to you; your right hand upholds me. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Read two inspiration sharing from Daily Bread which I think both are very related. It tells about our sinful nature and how to resist from sinful urge. Phil 3:9 tells us that we are found in Him, not having our own righteousness, which is from the law, but which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith. When we receive Christ, we are set free from the penalty and the power of sin. We are able to say no and yes in our daily decision. We can say no to the desires of the flesh or "youthful lust" (2 Tim. 2:22). Hmm....what kind of "youthful lust"? Is it the lust that most of the youths experience? So when they grow older, the desire is not there? Maybe partly because most youths commit more wrong doings, at least that's what reported in the newspaper. So the heart of the youth is wild - need to be tamed :) We should flee from the "youthful lust" (figurative speaking) and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace. S...

Probably the most effective prayer is: God, help me. Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. Elijah, for instance, human just like us, prayed hard that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't—not a drop for three and a half years. Then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. The showers came and everything started growing again. James 5:16-18 (The Message) If Elijah can pray and got answered, so as we. What is needed is transparency if we pray. Therefore, we need to confess first. Consider this humor: During a cell group session, the group members are encouraged to confess their sins, which have not been confessed publicly. Pastor A: I used to take marijuana before I joined the bible college. (The group members were in shock upon hearing this) Paster B: I sometimes use foul language when people overtake...

Heard this message about Matthew 25:14-30 (The Parable of the Talents). We know that it's about stewardship. But this passage is more than that. The Bible says the master gave the talents to three servants. He didn't loan or borrow, but give. So it's a gift. And the master left for a journey. The interesting point is that the Bible doesn't say the master would return to settle the account. The master did return. So the talents that have been given are analogous to the gift that each servant had received. Two of the servants embraced the gift and worked it out for a return. The other servant didn't get any gain from the talent. He might have not appreciated the gift (because he was given one talent while the other two got more?). This could be the same with us. Each of us has gift according to His will. And not all of us use it fully. Be it to bring glory to God or to advance His will. The reason? Sometimes people are reluctant to receive gift. They receive it and pu...

The MU students had a training program session in Bukit Tinggi last month. With collaboration from Boulder Nav of the US, 8 Americans arrived in Malaysia to experience and serve God. The training program was aimed to equip the students with some basic knowledge of the bible, quiet time, Christian life and evangelism. We were urged to forget our glorious past and be prepared for the next springs. As Israel had successfully left Egypt, God reminded them that He was doing a new thing. 18 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. (Isaiah 43:18-19) Indeed, there are some signs of spring. This year alone few students pledged to be with God, as promised through Isaiah 44:1-5: 1 "But now listen, O Jacob, my servant, Israel, whom I have chosen. 2 This is what the LORD says— he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and ...

If you are in the race, the goal is to win. If you are in pentathlon event, you have to win all. Losing any one of the events doesn't mean you are victorious. So as our life. We have personal life, family, work, church and community. If we do well in work but miss family time, we don't do well in life. Again, this is rather high calling and need enormous effort, dedication and responsibilities. Well, everyone has high calling. Some choose ignorance instead. At the basic, we are all stewards. We need to re-examine our roles (in that five areas) so that to bring out the essence of Christ. I'm a husband, father, son, friend, colleague and community member (Facebook....hehe). Inspired by Grace@Work, article titled Being Before Doing .