Life, Travel, GRACE

We got to know Paul Lai and his family will be moving back to their homeland in Tawau, Sabah. Paul will go back on 19 Jan 06. Kah Fang and little Lai will however come back to KL after the Chinese New Year to settle their ongoing business. We had a gathering with them on Boxing Day. Friends of them came to bid farewell and convey best wishes.

This year Christmas was a wedding Christmas. We attended matrimony service of Alex and Suzanne in the morning. Then they held a Chinese style wedding bonquet at night. Alex and Suzanne are from the TAR Nav ministry.

We had a little Christmas party on eve of Christmas. Had some new friends and students joined the party. There were games, caroling and of course eat-all-you-can dinner. The party ended with exchanging gift. Everybody had a great time though.

One of the local magazines has featured Bario highland as a travel destination. Well, at least there's pineapple plantation which I didn't see / discover during my last visit. Here's the link: http://www.karangkraf.com.my/E-Majalah/Traverama/default.asp?categories=TRA1 Update: The above link has been updated with current issue.

It has been 2 (TWO) years I stayed in the "activity house". It was established with the purpose to serve as a one stop center for the students. Facilities included theater room, broadband internet and pc. Thanks to all the generous donors who support the "activity house" for these two years. As the support for the house has due, the MU Nav guys have decided to stay until end of semester 2 next year (to be exact, end of June 2006). We do not know how will God lead us. We are not sure if there will be new students to join us for another year of friendship and sharing. We are not sure if there will be enough financial support for the rental and maintenance. It will be quite uncertain. We'll leave it to God and let Him direct us......

As the new year is coming, there are plans for next year trip. Personally, somewhere in May '06, I'll be going to Laos and Chiang Rai / Chiang Mai. The second half of the year will have Kinabalu trip. Date not yet fix. As the SPICE club is planning to have New Zealand trip in Dec '06, that could be another holiday option for me. (Note: SPICE club is an MU Nav activities covering area of spiritual, physical, interllectual, character building and emotional balance) Have confirmed a flight KL-BKK on 6 May 06. Planning is on the way.....

We were discussing about loss of position last week. It seems like none of the members had experience loss of position (maybe most of us still young, haven't tasted the achievement of life?). Anyway, our response should be positive when we face loss of position. We should accept it as God's decision. He is doing wonderful thing for us. He has plan for us indeed. It could be a time where we can grow towards Him. Sometimes, "maxing out" will be a danger for us. At some point we will try very hard to get the position. But we may end up not getting it. It's how we deal and face this loss that's matter. Position is important but it is temporary. God gives and takes. We should place our value and identity on God alone....

Strawberries from Cameron Highlands.....a short trip with some first year students. I was not in the trip though :)

As I watched "Schindler's List" for the second time, I sensed and grasped a different point of view as compare with my first time of watching (which was about a year ago). The story still refreshing and aspiring. There was an one-arm old man who proudly professed he was an essential worker. Towards the end of the movie, the worth of the workers (or the people) had become the theme. The main actor (Oskar Schindler) tried to save all his workers from the holocaust. As I reflect with our current market force, have we really appreaciate the "worker(s)". Have we take for granted all the contributions? Be it direct or non-direct. How do you treat and relate with your colleague, superior and sub-ordinate? A moment to ponder and excogitate.....

1 Sam 15 -> Saul lost his kingship. He disobeyed God's command. He begged for forgiveness....trying to fix thing back. It's too late. Gen 39 -> Joseph lost the trust from his master. He submitted to God. And he was blessed. These two examples from the bible clearly described how men respond to loss (in this case with immediate effect). Our society put their motivation rooted in desire and fear. Desire for wealth accumulation, fear of losing etc. These two, however, can be wisely use together with love - a biblical way. Desire to be holy, fear of God and of course love is the greatest of all. We should prepare ourselves how to face loss of motivation. As the principle applied, love should encompass in our response and action. It is however not easy to apply when the real difficulty arises. Peer support somehow will play a role. Our response should be trusting and submissive to God's authority. Not forgetting desire to be with God and fear of God's command. Our mo...

We started off with the first danger that each of us will face: the danger of loss. Each one of us will face loss (or losses) in one of our life stage. Be it loss of your love one, job, motivation, influence etc. Our response to loss somehow will either build our character or destroy us from growing. The group members agreed that different stages of life have different potential or probable loss. Student may feel the loss if they fail the exam. Worker may feel the loss if they do not get employed. And the list goes on. We shall see how can we learn from the response of Saul and Joseph when they encountered loss (1 Sam 15 and Gen 39).

The book of Nehemiah recorded the account how Nehemiah brought back his people and rebuilt the nation. In Neh 1-2, we were told how Nehemiah received the vision and mission. Surely it should have come from the heart and prayers. With the vision he had, he planned. He recruited his people for the vision and mission. He shared his vision with the people. Coincidently, some of them already had the same vision (Neh 1:11, Neh 2:18). God was at work! Another interesting insight is why Nehemiah requested materials for rebuilding the wall and not labor force from the king. In the context of MU ministry, we believe God will prepare his people for the campus vision. Further study on Neh 3-6 revealed the obstacles during the rebuilding of the wall. Attack and threat from enemies as well as internal problem were some of the hindrances. However, it was Nehemiah response that overcome these obstacles. The main principles: be steadfast, stand firm and remain faithful to the calling or mission. B...

As we evaluated God’s promises, the book of Isaiah shed some insight and thought. We first studied Isa 40. The passage serves as a reminder who God is and who we are (our creation and crave for the most high). We ought to be humble as God controls everything. A quick look into Isa 42-43 with cross-reference to Eph 1-2 give a bigger picture of God’s purpose for us. We are predestined (Eph 1:5) to be God’s witness and perform ‘good works’ (Eph 2:10). Similarly, God is at work as he prepares ‘delivery’ for his people. And He is doing ‘new things’ (Eph 43:19) as promised (Eph 42:9). What is ‘good works’? An agreeable statement by John Stott: expenditure of energy which brings self-fulfillment, benefit to the community and glory to God.

As the nation was celebrating Deepavali and Hari Raya, most of the people had a whole week off. Having a long break, it is wise to use the rest day to produce true fruitfulness. Four activities which we should cultivate in our leisure time includes relating to creation, ourselves, other people and God. With these principles, the MU Nav members had gone for a retreat during the long off days. The purposes of the retreat were to review and get insight from the Scriptures regarding current ministry situation besides having fellowship and fun time among each other. The retreat was held at Istara condominium, PJ. Night view of KL and PJ as seen from the condo

As we live our life in this fallen world, we are exposed to all sort of "dangers". Danger brings different meaning and experience to each individual. But the danger which we fear the most are the ones we do not see until it is too late. No doubt satan brings good disguise until the victim slowly entrapped into sweet temptation. Each one of us have dreams. Our dreams somehow change along the course of life. Most of the members felt that perspective and dream change as we follow Christ. Dangers come in whether we know it or not. If we are not aware, dangers will destroy our dreams. The members believe the prominent danger that Christians are facing is danger of dream. Christians tend dare not to have big dream (big dream for spiritual work). This could be due to biblical values which have molded the perspective of each Christians. Martin Luther did have a big dream. There are five dangers to be explored: danger of loss, danger of sin, danger of freezing, danger of witdrawal and...

The MU Nav will be having a series of bible study based upon a book titled "Dangers Men Face" by Jerry White. The objectives of the study are to explore and equip ourselves for the future dangers that we might encounter, so that we can have positive response which will bring glory to God. Among the dangers which everyone will face are danger of loss and danger of sin. The study begins with the introduction of the "danger".

Abstract from MUNav bible discussion on 23 Oct 05. This was the third session of the study of wealth management from the biblical perspective. We have examined and acknowledged that God is our provider. Then we studied the parable of tenants (Matt 25:14-30). After seeing that God provides and blesses his people, it is good to check if God will ever take away the blessing. Lk 12:13-21 elaborates the self-centeredness of the rich man. God had blessed his wealth yet he did not store the rich toward God. Indeed, God does oppose the proud (Js 4:6). Lesson #1: God takes away because we disobey (see Deu 30 for details). Consider the story of Job in Old Testament. Why he was chosen to suffer all those kind of sufferings? It was mysterious that God allowed this to happen. Indeed, God does test us. However, he will not tempt us beyond what we can bear (1 Cor 10:12-14). The good thing is God will "repay" more than what he has taken (see Deu 30 for details and again Job was blessed more ...

Lina, Rafal and their kid Nicholas were here on 18 Oct 05. Many friends came for the gathering......Weng and family, Wai Tuck and family, Swee Chuan & Li Cheng, Poh Yen and Teck Seen......to name a few. It was good for the fellowship. Updated 11 Nov 05 - photo attached.

At Ngoc Son Temple, Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi.

Hi, Have stopped making homepage since 2002 (?). Now just want to revive what have been left out. More sharing on the way.... By GRACE we live.