Things I Should Have Done (A Good Friday’s Sharing)
Alighting from the bus this afternoon, I realised that I did not do the things I should have done properly. Passing a friend by, my mind was so focused on things and works that I overlooked greeting him/her or, even worse, his/her greeting to me. Waking up at 5am almost every day, instead of spending time in communion with God I had almost every time gone back to sleep.
Things like that happen often, and I am usually struck with a sense of guilt and sometimes depression at the moment I found that I did not do the things I should have done; something or someone is missing in my heart. That often makes me feel bad; that often makes those around me to feel bad. The disciples were not attentive, “… he found them asleep…” [Matt 26:43] and that, as we know, was followed by a disaster.
In today’s perspective, owing to mankind’s weakness many disastrous incidents happen, but we must not give up, “… All things are possible for God” [Mark 10:27]. Nevertheless, while no one knows whether the little things that we are doing will result in fruitfulness or a disaster, the important principle is that immediately when we hear from God we obey, now. What made Good Friday and Easter Sunday significant to us is this: hope is bestowed to the hopeless, and reconciliation to the deserted.
“Never let the sense of failure corrupt your new action.”
Oswald Chamber
Therefore, I must not let mere-guiltiness disable me. Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus; the assurance of forgiveness stems only from faith in the unique Son of God – “… I resolved to know nothing except Jesus the Messiah, and him crucified…” [1Cor 2:2]. From such faith comes the confidence to dare to fail and try again (not the license to sin and sin again).
And I believe this is the essence of Easter Sunday commemorating Jesus’ resurrection: “… not be based on human wisdom but on God’s power…” [v. 5]. It is an ever-renewing life to see God’s greatness despite our weaknesses; it is the reality of Emmanuel – God is with us.
Friends, are you and I living in communion with the Risen Lord daily and continually? Or is that kind of reality… far from us?
At Membakut, Sabah (A Christmas ShArIng)
After a moment of mental preparation, I was in tears while sharing on the topic of leadership during an impromptu public speaking session in the Student Council’s Induction Course organised by the university’s Student Affair Department (or Hal-Ehwal Pelajar) at Membakut, Sabah, on the 13th – 16th of December, 2008.
To begin with, I spoke to the participants – that is, the leaders within the Student Council – about what I learnt from the book “LEADERSHIP GOLD” by John C. Maxwell. Then, at one point of the sharing I roughly quoted Patrick Morley by saying that “although terrorist bombing is not common in this nation, imagine this: if it happens, the destruction would be disastrous and its aftermath hard to recover. So it is if we fail to control our emotion and anger as a leader: you just need one explosion and that’s it.”
After that, I went stuttering, being deeply troubled in my heart as some thoughts came to my mind and bursting out in tears before choosing finally to articulate it clearly to the audience: “I regret some of the things I did to my juniors last time as a captain during secondary school, now that after graduation I could only pray and hope that they will be influenced correctly by a good leader now and in the future.”
Subsequently, (after calming myself down,) I went on sharing about what I meant a good leader. “An effective leader might not always mean a good leader; Adolf Hitler was very effective, wasn’t he? Nevertheless, a good leader must be effective.” And I ended my sharing with this: “Therefore, even as I read different kinds of books and am open to many advices, I must look off to a good leader and hold on to a main, authoritative reference to truly understand the standard of living. So I present to you that, to me, the good leader is Jesus Christ, the only one who has never done anything wrong on earth and thus was and is and forever will be called the perfect Man, and the main reference is the Bible.”
What I had shared among them I also share with you now. That was just one of the many aspects of being changed by the Word of God. I was a hot-tempered person, and after knowing Jesus I wasn’t immediately changed; I went through a process of renewal by the Word of God and today, although I like you am by no means immune to the temptation to anger, I know at least that there’s an alternative way to overcome and to live a truly standard life, and that way is found in the Spirit of the Messiah as well as the God-breathed words in the Bible.
That way is neither to live by mere sound philosophies nor to merely adhere to laws and regulations – it’s a loss to think that the Bible and Christianity contain only those things – but the way of the Saviour and the Lord of heaven and earth is far more than just philosophies, laws and regulations; that way points to a genuine relationship between God and mankind restored through Jesus the Messiah. (Messiah in Greek: Χριστός, pronounced as khris-tos’ and translated as Christ, which means the Anointed One or the Chosen One.)
“In the beginning, the Word existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God.” – [John 1:1-3]
As the saying goes, “Like father like son”; “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son…” [John 3:16] the Word also so wanted to be genuinely related with mankind that he humbled himself in this way: “The Word became flesh and lived among us.” [continued from John 1 above, verse 14] That Word is God’s only Son.
This has come to pass after a cry was heard at a little manger in Bethlehem, on Christmas day. It was a cry of an innocent baby bearing the consequence of mankind’s sins. And, going through human growth from baby to childhood to adult, he has taught us by setting himself as a sinless, perfect example (and thus, as a good leader) while he was on earth and, more than that, he suffered, died (not for his own sin but to take away our sins) and rose from the dead before sitting down at the right hand of the throne of God, from whom he came [Hebrew 10], for us to follow him and his standard of living. Today, such genuine relationship continues through his Spirit, until the time we see him face to face during Perfection in the Last Day – until eternity.
That is the Good News according to the Bible. And that is why I celebrate Christmas. Friends, do you celebrate Christmas? Is the reason behind that celebration the Good News according to the Bible or something else? Don’t replace what is perfect with what is imperfect. “No human is perfect…” shouldn’t end just there; it should instead end this way: “… except Jesus the Messiah.”
Let me end this sharing with a song,
Jesus loves me, yes I know,
for the bible tells me so.
Little ones to him belong,
they are weak but he is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so!
(This is a sharing for Christmas in the year of 2008 with 888 words including reference, excluding this last sentence, counted with Microsoft Word.)
The 3rd Reunion Anniversary With My Father
I forgot when I accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Saviour (maybe around April, 2005) but I remember vividly the time I was first baptised – 25th September, 2005 (baptism simply means that I declare publicly, “I’m a Christian. Jesus is my Lord forever!”) So I just make this day a special day for myself in remembrance of the Reunion with my Father in heaven.
This sharing is also a sequel to my previous article ‘Mere Impressions and Clear Instructions’.
Jesus’ words recorded in the Bible are in red colour.
“The wind blows where it wants to. You hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. That’s the way it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Jesus – [Gospel of John 3:8]
God’s clear instruction for us truly come with deep impression in our hearts (or our spirits), but our mere impressions after that might not always mean that they come from God. Our faith in God can only be consolidated through continually listening to and believing in God’s clear instructions (or what God has said) – “That’s the way it is…” Conversely, those who believe (or have faith) in themselves do so by their human/fallen/sinful nature; they follow their own thoughts, only hold to their individual principle and nothing else – “… they don’t know what they’re doing.” [Luke 23:34] (No one is immune to the human nature; I once lived like that, too, and it’s shameful to see the sins I’ve done with such nature! Thank God that, through his Son who takes away the sins and shames of the world, his Spirit restores the New nature into everyone who is willing to believe and follow him. But if I’m not careful, I may repeat the same mistake. Therefore, I hereby also sincerely apologise for all my wrong doings that may have hurt you or made you stumble, if you know me personally. Forgive me… more than that, pray for each other that we may stay close to Jesus, who is the one and only man that lived perfectly sinless on earth, and learn from him.)
To focus our minds on the human nature leads to death, but to focus our minds on the Spirit leads to life and peace. That is why the mind that focuses on human nature is hostile toward God. It refuses to submit to the authority of God’s law because it is powerless to do so. Indeed, those who are under the control of human nature cannot please God.
Paul – [The Letter to the Romans 8:7-8]
… about Hui Yi’s Testimony
Let us consider the case of Tee Hui Yi, the miracle girl last december in Malaysia who has undergone two heart-transplant surgeries and survived. This was her encounter,
“It was two days after my second transplant. As I was resting, each time I closed my eyes, I saw him. He had dark eyebrows and long curly hair. It was Yesus! I knew him from pictures I had seen of him. He looked at me with eyes that seemed to tell me, ‘I will take care of you,’ and seemed to invite me to trust him.”
Tee Hui Yi – [Interview in Asian Beacon, Vol. 40 No. 2, page 24-25]
Indeed, “The wind blows where it wants to. You hear its sound…” is no longer an analogy of the wind but a Reality of the Spirit, who revealed Jesus to Hui Yi. Now, will Hui Yi, after her encounter with the Spirit of God (and being deeply impressed), grow faith by keeping on closing her eyes and desiring to see the Jesus in visions or dreams again and again? No, of course! If she thinks (or relies on her mere impression) that she can grow faith like that, she will surely be very disappointed at the end of the day; the move of God’s Spirit is not under anyone’s manipulation; he is sovereign (or he works in his own way), “…you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going.” The only way to grow faith is only through continually listening to and believing in God’s clear instructions – “That’s the way it is….”
… about My Testimony
To be frank, I don’t personally know Tee Hui Yi or how she is now; I just read about her testimony in the magazine. Here, this is my own testimony on conversion:
(We dream when we’re asleep; we see vision when we’re awake.) Some spirits came to me through dreams and visions at different nights to impress me, “I am Jesus,” or, “I’m sent by Jesus,” so that I follow the instructions given by them; now, who was the real one? It was fearful, that’s the problem; God is love and ‘there is no fear where love exists.’ – [1John 4:18] They were not from God but were just gods and spirits – they’re liars. So I thought (or impressed on myself that), ‘How I wished to see the real Jesus in my vision or dream so that my faith in God can be boosted! I think that should be the way. Yes, God, please reveal yourself to me so that I can see you, because I’m so confused by those liars now that I find no meaning to continue my life!’
As a result (on the contrary), I was hit from disappointment to disappointment, seeing the false spirits, who deceptively came with ‘good intentions’ (e.g. they quoted the Bible and claimed that they were angels from God!). Those days (during Form 6 or Pre-University period) of spiritual darkness were tough for me. Without the Word of God, I might not be here today to share with you. The Word of the Father authored by his Son and enlightened/instructed by his Spirit* is the only weapon against the camouflaged visions, dreams and voices/instructions of the Enemy given by liars, whether these liars are living humans or deadliest daemons!
“Is it because you have seen me that you have believed? How blessed are those who have never seen me and yet have believed!”
Jesus – [Gospel of John 20:29]
*Source: Smith Wigglesworth’s sermon on “The Author and Perfector of Faith”
… about Mere Impressions and Clear Instructions
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you have known me, you will also know my Father.”
Jesus – [Gospel of John 14:6]
Dear friends, have you known Jesus, so that you also know the Father and thus live by his clear instructions? Or has it often been a sad lament, “I have not kept in touch with the Father; he seems like hiding away from me,” or worse still, “I don’t know who my Father is or what he wants,” so that you live by your mere impressions? I ask those questions daily to myself, too. God is God whether we believe in him or not, so why resist him (and estrange ourselves from him)? Friends, the Father is always eagerly waiting for us, so that we will turn back to him and embrace him (with tears of joy)! Remember: God loves you whoever you are; he sent his Son to die for us so that we can be forgiven of our sins and be healed and restored by his Spirit in order to receive eternal life. “And this is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent — Jesus the Messiah.” – That was Jesus’ prayer to his Father (at the critical time before going through the Great Suffering on the Cross) for us – “Sanctify them by the truth. Your word is truth.” [John 17:3, 17]
ONE more indirect lesson: If you find it difficult to follow this God whose Son has died for us, pray (and listen to the clear instructions of his Spirit); the reason for us to pray is that Jesus did so; only this perfectly sinless Man is qualified to be our highest Teacher and Example (on earth); follow Jesus; only believe!
Mere Impressions and Clear Instructions
“The wind blows where it wants to. You hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. That’s the way it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Jesus – [Gospel of John 3:8]
God’s instructions are not received through mere impression or feeling. I can feel like I want to do many good works or be impressed in my heart to serve God in this or that way and still not be doing God’s instructions. A man of God made this point very clear in his sermon ‘How To Discern Voices’,
“Was it of God? That is the first thing. It was an impression, coming from a desire to be something special. That’s the danger…”
Smith Wigglesworth
“The wind blows where it wants to. You hear its sound…” Indeed, God’s clear instructions truly come with deep impressions, but mere impressions do not always mean that they come from God.
… about Human Nature
Finding A Girlfriend (Revised Edition)
Note:
The prelude to this story is my previous article ‘Loneliness’.
- A Letter To Those Around My Age, 21 -
To my friends, especially those in UMS and all my former schoolmates,
Let the story begin…
Both of us had known each other for a few years; a nice girl to mix with, and very well behaved, she’s a quiet person, but no one can deny her beauty. I had not failed to expect to see her at ‘a place’ we usually went to and, if I saw her, I would do everything I could just to catch her attention and say, “Hi!”, and then start a conversation, even a short one would suffice.
One day, in that place, there she was passing me by in front of me; I was sitting, looking at her as she was walking away from my seat. She was heading home. “Oops!” Something dropped to the ground, and I just couldn’t turn my sight away from her when she was reaching her hands down to pick it up. Afterwards, to my surprise, she turned and looked at me straight into my eyes, I didn’t shun away; we’re all by ourselves in a small little space with just a glass door separating us – no one was around to distract us, and this time we had an eye-to-eye contact, without talking to each other, for quite a while. I didn’t know how she felt and what she was thinking, but as for me, I felt very excited inside my heart, though I appeared not to be, and thought ‘I think I’m in love’ at that moment before she went home.
Truly, those feelings and thoughts were intense… indescribable.
After that, I pondered on my life, and a feeling of loneliness crept into my heart, troubling me. I immediately whispered something in response to it,
“Father in heaven, I know you said that there’s a season for everything under heaven. Now, tell me, can I start a relationship with her? In Jesus’ name I pray… ”
It was on a Saturday’s morning that I prayed that prayer. That very night I went to the youth meeting as usual. So then, my friends and I listened attentively as the pastor spoke on the topic of ‘Music and its origin.’ Half-way through the talk, the pastor, after looking up for a moment as if he was interrupted, switched the subject to ‘Boy and girl relationship (BGR) – Dating and/or Courtship’, giving a short but stern reason before doing so. This was the reason and the way he said it,
“There must be someone here who is troubled and is asking God about BGR. Now, listen to me, you… don’t be foolish! Never be involved in a BGR before graduating from the university! During campus life, you must mix with all kinds of friends… but never be involved in any dating or courtship!”
Pastor
That was of course obviously irrelevant to ‘Music and its origin’, but then he went on sharing with us all about BGR, advising us and telling us from stories to stories, and we youth were always very interested in such stories. Now, I did not tell my pastor that I had prayed the above mentioned prayer, and he also did not notice that I was trying my best to keep the tears in my eyes from flowing while I listened to him – I was touched and very much alarmed in my heart! (My pastor, unless someone had told him, does not know about this until today.)
As for the ‘feeling of loneliness’… I say goodbye to it. It is but a lie of the devil, should it trouble me to the extent that I think of all sorts of evils – immoralities, rejection, lack of confidence, impurities… etc. However, now, as I look at it positively, I realise that it was a deep yearn inside my heart that drew me to call out, “Father in heaven, can I… ” and then came the answer – “No, not now.” – and I wept as I went back home alone that day, not because my request was halted, but because I was touched by the way God cared for me.
Today, I am still keeping in touch with that special girl. I know the boundary I should set – just friend – and I must test everything before I decide for a courtship because relationship, I believe, does not depend on feeling alone.
My personal opinion on finding a girlfriend during university
Dear friends,
Why do I share this? While I don’t have the experience eligible to suggest that the urge of dating should be resisted during the campus life, I just can tell you that God cares for every one of us. Well, this is what I want to say,
At that moment I asked him, “Can I begin a courtship with her?”
He sent a pastor, giving me just a simple answer, “No, not yet.”
I thank God someone told me the Good News.
Otherwise, I would have decided everything on my own.
Truly, I have all the right and will to say, “I wanna find myself a girlfriend,”
but nothing is more important than to obey God’s clear instruction.
This is the Good News for us,
Jesus loves us; he desires to commune with us.
Now, about 2 years later – I’m studying in University Sabah Malaysia,
and after much knowledge instilled in me,
as I keep growing in Christ Jesus, my Teacher,
only then I realise – I’m not at all ready yet to have a girlfriend.
Oh… I was about to step out and start dating her!
Oh… what if I didn’t obey after God answered my prayer?
So I found that in everything we do, we must remain in communion with God.
Truly, that prayer is life-impacting for me!
Indeed, God never fails to show himself faithful to his children.
What can I say, friend? “Finding a girlfriend” seems to be a big and important issue for me personally. Yet personal needs are secondary to the plan of the One in whom everything is made perfect. Human will can be good and pleasing sometimes, but it is never perfect by itself. I don’t know when will I be ready to find a mate and marry her, though I could plan about it. However, a living principle that I hold on to is:
Do not be conformed to this world, but continually be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you may be able to determine what God’s will is — what is good, pleasing, and perfect.
Paul of Tarsus – [The Letter to the Romans; chapter 12 verse 2]
This world says to me, “If you do not date one partner during university,” often with a ‘wondering why’ manner, “You’re just so traditional, don’t you think it’s boring?” or it may trigger me to get worried, “Don’t regret then, you would have missed the greatest opportunity given in the campus life.”
Well, finding a girlfriend now may seem good and pleasing to me, but my will must be in line with God’s. I never seek a perfect life – that’s impossible, but I do desire for a better life – every one does. What is the will of God for me, then? To be frank, personally, I don’t really know much yet. Nevertheless, generally, everything is written in the Bible, the Word of God. Say for example the above quote on Paul of Tarsus in his Letter to the Romans, try to read on the rest of chapter 12 and we’ll know the general will of God, which will direct our mind to look at the right perspectives and priorities.
Finally and most practically
So friends, what can I do now? Read, listen, understand and do the words of God ministered to me – practise what has already been made known… everyday! Growth is a process, and God’s will for me in my personal life shall be revealed by his Spirit, not too early and not too late – at the exact time, not only about BGR, but also in every other areas of my life, according to his precious and wonderful promises recorded in the Bible.
What about… that special girl? They say campus life is the best opportunity! Well, be friend first, however, NO DATING YET for me; I’ll draw a line – just friend… even after graduation when I’m in my workplace… until after I examine myself (and her, of course) thoroughly… then baru saya tengok ada ‘feeling’ atau tidak lah! *(Grins)
“Marry your best friend (till the day you die).”
Pastor Chris Kam - [DUMC’s Floodgates Magazine: Issue 44, page 19]
I don’t know how about you, friends, but are you willing to ask, “Father in heaven, … in Jesus’ name I pray,” and wait on God as you keep doing the words ministered to you and continually discover his general will first? If you are willing, then start with the Good News.
God bless you in finding your life-long mate…
Do consider the Good News,
CHRIS
- End of Letter-
The Sequence of this Sharing >>> A Sad SAD Situation? (A Valentine’s Day Sharing)
Loneliness
“… having nice chats and conversations, yet sometimes,
although I was in the midst of a crowd or among two or three people,
even then I could, not understanding why, feel lonely.”
Owing to what I’ve been through and how I learnt from my experience, I pondered on the word ‘loneliness’ recently and classified it into three aspects. Just want to share with you…
… about Being Lonely
There is a kind of loneliness every one of us spends in our own unique ways. As a student, for example, I need personal time to concentrate and study, to be in privacy, to rest… etc.
Although everyone spend this lonely time differently, I realise that I must be careful not to spend my time alone in ‘busy-ness’ or because of the fear of being rejected by others. Thinking this way will eventually cause bondages of workaholism or rejection respectively. Indeed it caused such bondages for my case a few years ago, but not anymore now because Jesus broke those bondages in me. So, while I may be spending my time more in loneliness due to my introvert nature, I must not forget the time mixing with friends. It’s all about balance. It would be yielding to the thoughts of evil or the weaknesses of man to say that I always want to be alone and not spend time with others – this is not introversion but self-isolation.
… about Feeling Lonely
On the other hand, there is another kind of loneliness that comes in the form of feeling. I believe this feeling comes sometimes so that I realise the nature of mankind to have companies. In spite of that, the situation had become something worse for me, though. This is the case:
Even though I was often with my parents, and with teachers as well as my friends,
having nice chats and conversations, yet sometimes,
although I was in the midst of a crowd or among two or three people,
even then I could, not understanding why, feel lonely.
This kind of ‘feeling of loneliness’ does not lead me to mix with friends but it strikes me even when I am with my family or friends. My pastor described it well when she told the church about one of her stories last year in a seminar,
“One day, as I woke up, seeing my husband was still asleep, I got up on my own and just spent time looking through the window at the rainy scene outside when suddenly thoughts came to my mind, ‘Oh Lord, I feel lonely…’ Immediately, I rejected those thoughts. So I can confidently assure you that this feeling of loneliness is indeed very real while, according to what we’ve learned in Jesus Christ, it is but a lie of the devil.“
Rev. Margaret Falls
Indeed, this kind of ‘feeling to loneliness’, which is really very real and strong sometimes, leads me away even from whoever that is around me like the situations mentioned above, sometimes it also triggers me to think evil thoughts such as lustful desires, impurity, immorality, hatred, unforgiveness, low self-image, discouragements,… etc; these are either the weaknesses of mankind or the deceptions of the evil ones. But thank God that in Jesus Christ it is made possible to overcome all these completely.
But there’s a feeling of loneliness that reminds me of my family and my friends so that I take the initiative to keep in touch with them; this, I believe, is from God and the nature of mankind he’s created so that I will not always want to be by myself.
… about the Sweet Loneliness
Yet, there is, however, a time of sweet loneliness no one should miss in any day.
It is to be in a place where there is no one else but only me alone – it draws me to hide myself from the world. Yes, truly, this is the kind of loneliness we all can’t live without – this is the quiet time spent with the living Jesus, who rose from the dead about 2000 years ago, after he preached the Good News on earth!
“After dismissing the crowds, Jesus went up on a hillside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone…”
Matthew – [Gospel of Matthew 14:23]
To be not lonely in a lonely place, how can it be? – Jesus said, “…Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.”
“Come close to God, and he will come close to you.”
James, the son of Joseph – [The Letter of James 4:8]
God coming close to us doesn’t mean that he’s often far away. No, God is always with us even without us knowing. God coming close to us means he is revealing himself to us, to let us know that he is real, to assure us that his Son has risen from the dead, to empower us as we experience his Spirit tangibly. This is the most wonderful way to be lonely, because God’s revealed Presence will expose and cast out all weaknesses of mankind, continually transforming us into God’s perfect image as we keep coming into his Presence. How marvellous – the quiet time spent with the Father through the Son, Jesus, by His Spirit living in us – is the moment communing with the Almighty One! It’s full of love, joy and peace. That’s why I said no one should miss this time in any day. This quiet time is made possible only because of the Good News. So it is said,
“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!”
Paul of Tarsus – [The Letter to the Romans 10:15]
CONCLUSION
In conclusion of my pondering of the word ‘loneliness’, I found that there is a difference between being lonely and feeling lonely. The former is just a physical condition or situation which is true even during the time of sleep in my room while the latter may either reminds me of my family and friends so that I take the initiative to keep in touch with them or, if I’m ignorant of what Jesus has said, strikes down my soul even when I am among a crowd of companions. Last but not least, I also deduced that…
Firstly, there is a general lonely time when we spend privately in different ways and needs. Secondly, there is a feeling of loneliness that reminds us to not always be alone by ourselves. Thirdly, there is a sweet loneliness which lifts us up from the natural to the supernatural, experiencing the wonder to be alone without being lonely – the oneness with God – supernaturally natural and naturally supernatural. The third is able to beautify the first and perfect the second, so that our faith in God is grown at every moment for all areas of our lives in both the personal and the corporate perspectives – whether when we’re alone, with 10 partners, 100 companions, 1000 members, 10000 people or billions of multitudes.
The sequel to this article is my story on Finding A Girlfriend.
Announcement: Nights Of Fire
NIGHTS OF FIRE
Date: 16th – 22nd of June, 2008
Time: 8pm
Venue: Dream Centre Auditorium
2, Jalan 13/1, Seksyen 13
46200 Petaling Jaya
Selangor, Malaysia
Click here for the Location Map
They went out and proclaimed everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through the accompanying signs. – [Gospel of Mark 16:20]
There are two ways of witnessing the Good News - one is by the members of the church bringing it out to the public, another is by the public joining together and listening to it with the church. The former allows more personal interaction while the latter enables a corporate experience of the power of God.
Then blind eyes will open,
deaf ears will hear.
Then the lame will leap like a deer,
the mute tongue will shout for joy… – [Isaiah 35:5-6]
Let’s just pray together for this event and for all who attend. And let’s come believing God for signs and wonders. If you have family members or friends with any kind of sickness or disease, don’t ever give up hope but be encouraged by the Word of God and come together and experience the miracles of Jesus Christ, the Lord of all.
12th Malaysia Cell Church Conference
Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) had just organised her 12th Malaysia Cell Church Conference (MCCC) last week. Dr. John Hull, the president and CEO of EQUIP founded by Dr. John C. Maxwell, was the main speaker along with the senior pastor of the church. All the participants have been blessed and inspired greatly in the area of Team Leadership, which was the main theme of the 12th MCCC. And I would like to thank my cell leader, Elizabeth, for helping me to register at the lowest fees I could get! Thanks Elie!
This conference helped me identifying my weakness in the area of leadership. It also refreshed me to be passionate about leading again despite my past failures and discouragements. I specially thank those who have encouraged me to press on towards what God has called me to be. Continue to pray for one another.
Before this, I thought I’d like to share some points of what I learnt, but I got a better idea. Below is a link to listen to the last session of the 12th MCCC. Though it’s centred on the church and I’ve jotted down some notes below, I find it applicable in other areas too. If you are interested, please refer to this audio link (Quick Time needed):
Session 9 – LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE IN THE LOCAL CHURCH - (Sermon by Senior Pastor Dr. Daniel Ho K. C. > 1 hour)
Challenges Within The Church
1. Keeping the vision clear
2. Keeping the passion high
3. Recognising that we are all in for the long haul
4. Raising two generation leaders
Challenges Facing The Church
1. Ethnic polarisation
2. Economic disparity
3. Political divisiveness
4. Relevance to society
5. Others: Materialism, Secularism, Apathy, Relevance…
What Is Needed For National Transformation
1. Commitment to the nation
2. Engagement with the community
3. Church-planting
4. Faith to believe God for influence and impact
5. Revitalisation of God’s people & Revival of the church
Although what we learnt were a lot more than these, I realise, as all of you must agree, that leadership needs to be practised through many challenges, not just attending conferences, which are catalysts to the whole process. I personally believe that
Not every one of us has been called to be a leader yet, but all of us must learn to lead now, beginning from leading ourselves!
May God bless you in your leading journey as you give glory to him always. Indeed, may the name of Jesus be exalted!
Eating Spider!
A few weeks ago, my cell group joined the International Night celebration in Sungai Way Subang Methodist Church (SSMC). It’s always exciting to see people from different nations gathered together to celebrate Jesus. My friend described it accurately when she shared with the cell group, “It’s just a glimpse of what is to come in the Last Day, when all people from every nations and tribes and tongues will celebrate Jesus together.”
Why I titled this post “Eating Spider”? Well, one of the nation that participated in this International Night is Cambodia. I was surprised that they brought their culture into this celebration, and the most exciting exhibition is… FOOD!
Look at the little things I’m holding. That’s a spider! And I was so excited I was gonna eat it! I took the courage to put it into my mouth, then I BITE IT… and crunch! crunch! crunch! Oh… I was trying my best not to think of anything. Slowly, I began to get used to it… and I started to analyse the taste of a spider… hmm… just like crispy prawn! LOL! However…
As I was overcoming the fear of eating spider, the legs and body of which were already crushed and spread all over my mouth, BEFORE I SWALLOW the oozy little thing, my friend show this 5 cm away from my face…
And I NEARLY VOMITED ALL THINGS OUT…
But I hanged on… shunned the worms quickly… and SWALLOWED THE WHOLE SPIDER INTO MY STOMACH FORCEFULLY…LOL. I’m brave, aren’t I?
Well, while I struggled so hard to eat just this one spider, as you know, the Cambodians actually eat insects like Malaysians eat potato chips. This is one of the most interesting events I had in my holiday.
Besides that, I enjoyed the different presentations from different nations also, here’s some of the pictures my friend, Gideon, sent me:
TEAM FROM AFRICA
TEAM FROM LAOS
I LIKE THOSE 2 LITTLE KOREANS
NEPALESE PERFORMANCE
AND BEHOLD, MISSIONARIES FROM CHINA! They are being trained to share the Good News to other nations especially India!
They Are Loved, Too!
Watch this video, YouTube Video – Street Ministry
It shows how God loves those whose homes are the streets, accepting the rejected, adopting those thrown-out of homes, comforting the dejected, helping the helpless, giving hope to the hopeless… How good is our God. All glory be to Jesus!
I thank God for the people willing to tap into God’s work. I’ve tried doing that before, and I found it hard and uncomfortable, yet God has to teach all his people, thank God for my cell group members who encourage me and all the members to go and serve… Sometimes I do feel guilty for not availing myself to do such work, a bit of shame crept into my mind even as I’m writing this post… But whatever I feel or say, I am convinced that nothing changes in me unless action is taken…
My respect to those who serve faithfully in the street, may God bless you! You do not serve out of guilt, but you have done it out of love and compassion of the Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed, may the Good News be made known to all.
For God does not show favouritism to anyone [Acts 10:34].
Although this may be common, but may the video at least encourage you and me a little bit more to be sensitive to needs of those in the streets. God loves them as much as you and me, who are using the internet.
