2009 And Beyond: Years Of Faith And Faithfulness
This year and beyond shall be the years that I should seriously consider on preparing myself for post-campus life. Thus, as I keep on building genuine relationships, by God’s grace, I shall also seek earnestly his will and to walk in faith and faithfulness.
God entrusts his inheritance on his people; this shall result in my faithfulness (to live life his way):
How blessed is the person,
who does not take the advice of the wicked,
who does not stand on the path with sinners,
and who does not sit in the seat of mockers.
But he delights in the LORD’s instruction,
and meditates in his instruction day and night. – [Psalm 1:1-2]
And all man depend on God’s faithfulness; this shall result in my faith (to believe in him for greater works) that I shall be a person as described in the following verse:
He will be like a tree planted by streams of water,
yielding its fruit in season,
and whose leaf does not wither.
He will prosper in everything he does. – [Psalm 1:3]
In the upcoming years, no matter how challenging they can be, it is my prayer that upon building genuine relationships I shall grow in faith and in faithfulness, to believe in and to obey God. Accompanying this theme is my devotional sharing on Drawing From His Presence.
An Overview On 2008/2009 – YEAR OF BUILDING GENUINE RELATIONSHIPS
Genuine relationships – including all relationships, ranging from most general to most personal ones – can be broadly defined in different ways. Whatever its definition is, it requires continual, mutual commitments. Certainly, the relationship with God stands most vital, which in turn keep reminding me about the importance of the relationships with the people around me. I wrote about that in The Sabbath, a devotional sharing. This post shares an overview on what had happened for my past-one year. Of course, building genuine relationships is a never-ending process.
1. CONCERNING MY PRESENT FAMILY
First and foremost, I thank God and am glad that my parents and my brothers have accepted the Lord and are now walking with him. I have even decided to join them in the same Mandarin-speaking church (because I had been attending one communicating in English). Although there are still moments of trials, I pray we can grow strong and serve together for and with God. For The Ever-Greater Next-Moments is one of the devotional sharings most inspired by what had been happening in me and my family.
At the time being I have been continually keeping in touch only with my immediate family members (i.e. parents and brothers). Well, guess I gotta be more intentional in this area. Family is always the safest zone in my life whether I feel troubled or joyful.
谢谢你，爸，因为你坚强努力地工作赚钱养家。
你的毅力要成为全家人的榜样！
谢谢你，妈，你为家庭所付出的心思我们知晓。
还有你下的厨，我在沙巴时只能怀念，却不能品尝，唉！
也谢谢你们，垲峻（我的大哥）和阿豪（我的弟弟），我们兄弟要继续努力。
若上帝允许，我们将来要创大大的业！哈哈！
也谢谢你，阿姨，虽然我们很少联络，
但你每月的支助重重祝福了我在大学生涯的日子！哈哈！
也谢谢你们，二伯伯，三伯伯，大姑姑，大舅舅和二姑姑二姑丈。
虽然我也没常与你们联系，但你们所给的帮助，鼓励和指示都使我受益不浅！
阿公、阿嫲，和公公、婆婆，祝你们身体健康。
我每次回去都盼望着要吃你们做的爱心甜品和拿手好菜！哈哈！
Definitely, supports by the rest of the family are most acknowledged and appreciated. Thank you all!
2. CONCERNING MY OWN DREAM FAMILY
Besides, finding a life-companion remains my desperation. I had had a crush on a girl, as I had described in Finding A Girlfriend (the crush being resulted from a possible-to-be-misunderstood eye-contact), and, realistically saying, (1) I am still approaching to know the real her (hopefully not in vain) and (2) she also has yet to know the real me (if she’s ever interested to). Nevertheless, …
… even on a person one may have a crush,
if to share together there is nothing much,
nothing then it would be but a mere-emotional rush
if not a short-lived crush that awaits to be crushed.
Yet at that moment I will know what to do;
I just cannot and must not force my way through.
Throughout this past-one year, I deliberately put to test my feelings towards her, and what I’ve found is that she has remained rather passive (or in a non-initiating role) for most conversations or matters except (1) some greetings and (2) official matters (such as those related to my portfolio as an Exco of Student and Residence Service), and thus, I think, the existence of many barriers between us is obvious. Sigh… Whatever it may be, from now on, “Sever the desire, but not the relationship” is how I should respond, I believe.
Then, as a new beginning in this area of my life, Trusting In God As A Single spells out my heart, soul and mind regarding this major-issue in my campus (and future-working) life, in search of the right one lady.
I’d just like to thank her here for the encouragements she offered during some of those trying moments which I took the initiative to share with her in writing. Well, we are still friends. God will always give her the best.
3. CONCERNING MY FRIENDS
In the perspective of friendship, at the appropriate time, the Men’s Breakthrough Weekend (MBTW) organised by Skyline Church has been a blessing. While I am desperate for my right lady with whom I can share my whole life – and her life – I thank God for the men in my MBTW group (two married and one in courtship) that as we open-up each of our hearts and share a bit here and there, prayers are offered and advices are given by the elders, even for our own quite-personal matters. Although the MBTW has just begun during mid-year of 2009, I believe it will eventually result in more strong bonds of friendship. Am I Accepted Or Not? is a little devotional sharing related to friendship.
I thank my cell group, viz. Faith’s group, for being committed to the warm, friendly and relaxing Friday-evening moments every week, and Clive, Steven and Willy, thank you for what you’ve shared during the MBTW. And thank you, Nicolas, though my busy-ness might have taken its toll on our once-usual times of prayers and sharings. Also thank you, Zheng Feei and Chee Tze, for the occasional tea times where we could open our hearts to one another. And Liu Qing, thank you, too, for the encouragements you gave during some of those doubting moments which I had written about to you. And Rona, you who are staying over there in the Philippines, thank you as well, for the continual, authentic sharings through the chat-room and emails even though we’re far apart. And thank you all, those who have cared, prayed or concerned for me, your name may not have been mentioned here, but I pray God bless you always! Thank you.
4. CONCERNING MY MINISTRIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
In addition, relationships with bosses (in the case of students leaders, officers, deans, lecturers… etc), colleagues and subordinates are essential, with due regard to the importance of teamwork. Yet, it cannot be denied that problems exist among coursemates, housemates, colleagues (in student-led organisations), and so on. Leadership is another devotional sharings inspired amidst the trying times for the past-one year of my life especially as a student rep.
I thank all UMS staffs and all my colleagues and all coursemates and all fellow-workers alongside me in the Messiah. Thank you all for your commitments; you know that I am talking about you 
5. OVERCONCERNING ABOUT THE FUTURE
Lastly, there has been a battle in my mind: Over-concerning, or rather worrying, especially about the uncertainties lying in the future. Sometimes I just concern too much, about anything, at any time, any where… to the extent that such worries affect my relationships, performance in my studies, carrying out of my duties… etc. Nonetheless, there have been various ups and downs.
All in all, I thank you, God. I thank you not so much for the circumstances around me, but specially for your goodness and loving kindness to all people regardless during good or bad circumstances. About the worries, I guess I need a paradigm-shift; help me.
FINALLY
Undeniably, I have made mistakes. For instance, failing to manage myself in busy-ness and sometimes neglecting the importance of genuine relationships, or when students complained about campus bus service or inquire about some simple things, I got impatient quickly and responded too bluntly at times; I’ll continue to examine myself in these and many other areas of my life, and change accordingly.
Finally, I am still praying specifically about what I would like to focus on as (by the 25th of September, 2009) I have entered into the fifth year following the Messiah. May God bless you, too, as he leads you in all the things that you do.
International Forum (UPLB-UMS): YOUTHS AND ASPIRATIONS
International Forum between the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB) and University Malaysia SABAH (UMS) : YOUTHS AND ASPIRATIONS
Written by:
Ooi Christopher,
BSc. (Food Science and Nutrition)
School of Food Science and Nutrition
Universiti Malaysia Sabah
Date of Forum: 27 May, 2009
Excerpt:
This article describes my life during campus years in line with the forum’s theme ‘Youths and Aspirations’. It begins with a foundation that I live on, and continues with my youths and aspirations based on that foundation. Within the elaborations are briefed about the Student Body of my school, the School of Food Science and Nutrition in Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), the Student Representatives Council of UMS, and Sky Campus Community (SCC, a non-governmental organisation), based on my experience. The article ends with a list of challenges I think we as students face with. Footnotes are inserted wherever deemed necessary as a reference for further information.
(This article focuses on the general aspects of YOUTHS AND ASPIRATIONS. It was revised upon blogging due to the grammatical errors and long-winded contents in the 1st printed version that we distributed during the forum. Information about UMS’s schools and academics was not included in the forum; it was given in details during an appointment with the School’s Dean and Deputy Dean on 28th of May, 09, and is also briefly attainable at the official website of UMS: http://www.ums.edu.my)
BUILDING ON A STRONG FOUNDATION
First and foremost, having spent nearly 2 years in Universiti Malaysia Sabah, I thank God for the abundant blessings he has bestowed on me and my family throughout the moments of our ups and downs. I firmly believe that, for a growing life, not only during our campus years but also throughout all life stages, our aspirations should be founded on two indispensable living-principles – (a) relational or communion-based and (b) educational or knowledge-based principles.
a. Relational or Communion-based Principles
It is my daily mission to realise the importance of genuine relationships (vertically) with God and (horizontally) with my neighbours – that is, the people who are closely related to me (e.g. my family) and those who are around me (e.g. my friends). And to me as a Christian, Lord Jesus the Messiah should be the centre of our focus and attention for all strong and genuine relationships.
b. Educational or Knowledge-based Principles
Practical education equips me as richly as it is made clear to all Malaysian citizens in the National Education Philosophy (NEP) of Malaysia:
“Education in Malaysia is on-going efforts towards further developing the potential of individuals in a holistic and integrated manner, so as to produce individuals who are intellectually, spiritually, emotionally and physically balanced and harmonic, based on a firm belief in and devotion to God. Such an effort is designed to produce Malaysian citizens who are knowledgeable and competent, who possess high moral standards and who are responsible and capable of achieving high level of personal well-being as well as being able to contribute to the harmony and betterment of the family, the society and the nation at large.”[1]
In my opinion, both the relational and the practical, educational principles can be based on and integrated by Mark 11:29-31 of the Bible:
In Mark 11:29-30 is written “The most important is… you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength…”, which indicates our communion with God, the heart, soul, mind and strength of that verse corresponding respectively to the NEP’s four knowledge-based attributes – the spiritual, emotional, intellectual and physical attributes, and, integrating to the horizontal relationship with such vertical, revitalising communion as well as with those four attributes and other characteristics compacted in the NEP, we can apply in our lives what the Lord Jesus calls his second-most important commandment to mankind – that is, “…You must love your neighbour as yourself” [v. 31]. And Mark 12:29-31 ends with an emphasis: “… No other commandment is greater than these.”
YOUTHS AND ASPIRATIONS ROOTED IN A STRONG FOUNDATION
The two indispensible living-principles lay the foundation on which I can discover boundless possibilities of successful and secure aspirations. It is a continuous process; I believe that, for us as campus students, our youth is a period as good to be grounded in that foundation as to apply it in our lives. Thus, a campus student should not just rely on academic achievements. I have personally taken part in various activities such as organising different programmes, trips, and farewell dinner for my school, SSMP, involving in the Stage-designing Unit of UMS’s Ang Pow Festival (i.e. an annual Chinese Festival for all UMS residents and the public), and participating church activities. Today, I am a member of UMS’s Student Representatives Council. Now, as a leader, juggling between academic and non-academic matters, it has never been easy to remain passionately motivated and motivative. I made many mistakes, and I find continual learning crucial for continual leading.
Youths
In The Student Body Of SSMP – 2008
Being an undergraduate in the School of Food Science and Nutrition (SSMP) in UMS has never been more exciting. In addition to the profesionalism of the academecians are the opportunities for the students to get involved in practicals as well as non-academic activities. In the year 2008 I took up responsibility to help the Student Body in organising a practical programme called “Healthy Lifestyle (or Gaya Hidup Sihat in Malay)” especially for the Nutrition-course students. In that programme we practised what had been taught during lecture, namely the way to measure Body Mass Index and to educate nutritional knowledge to the general public.
Among the other various activities that the school’s Student Body also organises are AIM Night (an annual dinner specially organised for final-year undergrads), field trip or visitation to food factories or farms (as an exposure to the working place), family day (to orientate new students), Food Bites publication (magazine of SSMP’s Student Body), seminars and talks (to equip students with extra knowledge), inter-school sports competition (to promote health awareness and harmony in UMS) and, just recently hosted by SSMP in the year 2009, the National Food Carnival (to harness inter-university-and/or-college connection nationwide) – I only managed to commit myself in helping to organise the first three activities mentioned here besides the “Healthy Lifestyle” practicals, but those involvements in fact paved the way for me to become what I am today, that is, a member representing SSMP in the Student Representatives Council of UMS.
In The Student Representatives Council (MPP) – 2009
The Student Representatives Council (MPP) of UMS has the vision to dignify UMS students in a global arena. MPP declares its five missions as 5Ks – that is, (1) Kesarjanaan, (2) Kokurikulum, (3) Kebajikan, (4) Kesahsiahan, (5) Kesepaduan, the Malay words respectively for (1) Academic excellence, (2) Non-academic achievements, (3) Welfare, (4) Morality and (5) Unity, and its motto echoes this way: “To generate the supremacy of the community.” The general policies it upholds include the National Principles (or in Malay, the Rukun Negara), student right, the responsibility to liaise between university administration and students, organisational effeciency and effectiveness, and balanced growth in four attributes – the intellectual, spiritual, emotional dan physical attributes – mentioned also in the NEP. The challeges that MPP faces with are to increase students’ commitment, involvement and co-operation in the events organised, the policies proposed, in handling campus issues and in coming out with new resolutions about those issues, as well as to continually gain students’ trust in the MPP. The bureaucratic organisational chart is also one of the main challenges since many resolutions failed to be realised on time with such time-consuming system.
It was not until after I received a vision from the Lord, was encouraged by my lecturers and friends, and was motivated by various speeches and readings that I chose to step out of my comfort zone and register myself as a candidate for the annual campus election in October 2008, which I then won with a slight majority and made it into UMS MPP. Up to now, I am in charge of the portfolio, Exco of Student Housing and Services (Exco 3P), alongside with my counterpart, Hazimin bin Awang (a student rep of the School of Social Science), until the dismissal of the Council towards the end of 2009.
This is the vision of Exco 3P: To ensure that student hostels and the facilities within as well as the various services in the campus are kept in good condition and in a well manner, and to see improvements realised duly, for the benefit of all UMS residents. And this is our mission: To liaise between the university administration and the students of UMS for the welfare of the latter – conveying any of the former’s messages to the latter, voicing any of the latter’s needs to the former, and proposing solutions to any existing-problem before attempting with best effort to carry out those solutions – so as to realise our vision, continually.
Other than making connections and cooperating with the Student Bodies of our respective schools to take care of students’ welfare and with the Committee of Student Welfare to handle issues in all student residential colleges, our responsibilities also include coordinating campus bus services and conducting ad-hoc matters such as surveying students’ response/satisfaction towards our services and the recent issue regarding the privatisation of campus bus service. Besides, we at times are also privileged to welcome visitors in UMS ranging from honoured guests to secondary school students. The MPP also has occasional retreats, the previous one being done at Membakut, Sabah.
In A Non-Governmental Organisation – 2008-2009
Before I become a student rep I also joined a non-government organisation, called Sky Campus Community (SCC), formed under Skyline[2], the church I belong to in Sabah. We had Emotional Quotient Seminar (EQS) – the main speaker of which was an internationally recognised consultant and former professor in the University Malaya (UM)[3], Prof. Dr. Leonard Yong, who formulated the L.E.O.N.A.R.D. Personality Inventory (LPI)[4], Sex and Sensibility Seminar, mission trip to the interior of Sabah at Timbua village, outings to various places (such as Sapi Island, Kiansom Waterfall, Kinabalu Park… etc) in the state dubbed the Land Below The Wind, and freshies night/dinner. The target participants of SCC events consisted largely of UMS students. One of the most unforgettable experience for me was to present in front of the camera to introduce and report our mission trip at Timbua village through SkyNews (i.e. a video-news production) to the church. In short, my participations in SCC have been none other than a blessing to me, exposing me to and equiping me with various life-values, knowledge and skills.
Notwithstanding, upon having been elected to be a member of UMS MPP, I have since then withdrawn myself from the core organising team of SCC, called ‘the Ablazers!’, and have become a participant of rather than a contributor to the organised events, in order to fully concentrate on my service in MPP, a ministry which I regard as a calling from God as I did equally SCC ministry. Such positional switch to MPP, as I have mentioned above, has been tough, and many of my weaknesses has been exposed, just like what Dr. John C. Maxwell wrote in his book, that “Defining moments defines your leadership”[5], and till now I am still a learning leader, learning from my mistakes.
Nonetheless, as the saying goes, ‘A wise person learns from his mistakes. A wiser one learns from others’ mistakes. But the wisest person of all learns from others’ successes.’ I believe God works universally, and I agree with Dr. Maxwell’s saying that “Every person has a potential to teach us something.” Futhermore, we should always learn to serve within people of different ethnicities, religions, traditional backgrounds… etc, a practice which in fact has always been emphasised by all the prime ministers of Malaysia since our Independence Day on the 31st of August, 1957. For example, the One-Malaysia Concept is recently propagated by our incumbent prime minister Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak to “preserve and enhance unity in diversity”[6]. I believe that the gist of all these can be applied from what Mark 12:17 of the Bible indicates, and it can be written this way: “Give back to the Nation the things that are the Nation’s, and to God the things that are God’s”.
Aspirations
Having personalised the two indispensable living-principles mentioned in the beginning of this article, I also find influencing them to my family, my friends and the society vital, too, as a leader, and that is why I have joined all the aforesaid activities and events. In the near future, what God holds for me I may not have clearly understood yet, but this is a calling for me: I will become a businessman-leader who contributes also to needy people and the nation’s welfare. I am currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science and Nutrition, the minor subjects of which, in UMS, are compulsory business-related studies. If God wants to, after graduation I will further my studies through a master’s degree if not a PhD. study in Food Science and Nutrition (probably also taking a certificate/diploma programmes on Psychology, for I am interested in it) and, perhaps, I will work as a tutor if not a lecturer first, since I am also fond of teaching and public speaking, and then take some courses if necessary – maybe the Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) – before venturing into my own business, throughout the process of which I pray that the mission reaching out to needy people will not die out in my heart, whatever situation I may be in.
CHALLENGES AND CONCLUSION
In spite of the many youthful events and the very ambitious aspirations that each of us as campus student has, many challenges lie before us in the present and the future. For example, some people may think by common-sense that to remain academically competent in lieu of the various involvements is most challenging. Some others concern about choosing the right friends and eventually the one-right life-partner, which (honestly speaking) are not any less difficult! I agree with all that, and all the more with Maxwell’s popular saying, “The one thing that you need to know to be a great leader is that there is more than one thing you need to know to be a great leader” and “Leaders are developed daily, not a day”. In this way, then, remaining firm in a strong foundation we will strain on forward for the aspirations God has laid in each of our hearts, for the good of those around us.
Proverbs 16:1,9
“Preparations of the heart belong to human beings,
but the response of the tongue is from the Lord…
… A person plans his way,
but the Lord directs his steps.”
Postscript and Acknowledgements:
Preparing for this forum has indeed caused me to reflect and realign my life, especially with the ideal theme ‘Youths and Aspirations’. It is my prayer that through this sharing every forum panelist (or the readers of this article) is benefited and blessed. In addition, I count it my privilege to also introduce UMS, specifically about its School of Food Science and Nutrition, with regards to the student activities, internationally. Last but not least, I would like to thank the administration of UMS and its counterparts in UPLB for giving me the opportunity to present this sharing. Thank you all and God bless you!
[1] Source: Official Portal of Malaysia’s Ministry of Education. http://www.moe.gov.my/tayang.php?laman=falsafah_pendidikan&unit=kementerian&bhs=en
[2] Skyline SIB Official Homepage: http://www.skylinesib.com
[3] Offical Portal of UM: http://www.um.edu.my
[4] Source: Official website of L.E.O.N.A.R.D. Personality Inventory. http://www.leonard.com.my/
[5] Source: Leadership GOLD © 2008 by John C. Maxwell.
[6] Source: One-Malaysia Portal. http://www.1malaysia.com.my/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=358&Itemid=93&lang=en
A Sad SAD Situation? (A Valentine’s Day Sharing)
“It’s sad, so sad; it’s a sad sad situation… Sorry seems to be the hardest word…” How many of you know that song by Elton John? Well, actually it’s not that I am sorry for this, but I had truly been through a really sad SAD situation – a sad Single, Available and Desperate situation. This is because I kept thinking, “I’m single, available and desperate, but not ready yet.”
‘Don’t Cry, Joni’ is another song that will surely intensify the desperation of any single, young man who listens to it. I don’t know how about the ladies, but any man who knows this sweet yet sad classic knows that it is all about “Don’t wait too long! Engage her before another man does, or else regret your hesitation.” (I’m talking about finding a life partner.) Of course, not all people – actually, no one wants to – end up so sad as the poor Jimmy in that song ‘Don’t Cry, Joni’ did.
I understand why many people, including my parents and grandparents, keep asking me about whether I have found a girlfriend or not. I have my own reasons why I am not ready for a date or a courtship (yet). And thank God many people shared their experience openly with me. Now, although I may have a girl in my mind, and even though I had worried that I might be ‘25-minutes too late’ to express my affection, through this dilemma of whether to get involved in courtship or not…
**… I am learning…
how love is different from lust,
and how to wait, and how to trust.
I am still learning…
how to stay in touch… although sometimes in the past
the time we spent together… did not seem to last.**
That can be the chorus of one of the songs of my life!
Prepare First, Then Only Look For One
“If you are not prepared for marriage, then it’s better to not get involved (in a romantic relationship) at all!”
No matter how ‘desperate’ I am now, preparing myself to be a life partner must precede looking for a life partner, so that even if I am still single, available and desperate, I do not fall into a sad SAD situation in my heart or in my mind. Any thought or feeling of ‘singlehood insecurity’ stems from my own fault – I have forgotten if not ignored the genuine relationship I have had (or I should have been having) with God as well as with my family, relatives and friends.
TO CONCLUDE:
I should now keep in touch with all the friends who are around me. Although I am currently attracted to and infatuated with her, I shall draw the line so that I am a friend to her just like I am to a few other people; I should find out more about her and about myself first. I believe it is wiser that I learn to hear, obey God and live my life in holiness as her friend and as an individual myself first, instead of leaping desperately, impulsively and uncertainly into any commitment – commitment that in any moment arouses me to say any words or to behave in any way which signifies ‘till death do we part’ – with her; I think it is better for me to not have a dating or a courtship with anybody, than to cause that somebody (and myself) to go through a struggle of overcoming the hurts, disappointments and awkwardness of a break-up’s aftermath, unnecessarily. I am desperate for a genuine courtship, not an impulsive or an uncertain one!
“What if someone else gets to her first before I do? What if it’s too late for me?” Oh, come on! (I’ll just repeat **chorus**.)
“We do not fall in love with somebody, we cannot; we may fall into an infatuation, but we grow, not fall, in love (together).”
So, am I just merely infatuated with her and nothing else? (I guess I have to go back to the conclusion above.)
Note: The target-readers of this sharing, like Finding A Girlfriend, are those who are single, available and desperate, not those who are dating or courting (as I don’t have that kind of experience to write such sharing), much less to say those who are married.
Passion and Faith
Joseph Prince, a prominent Singaporean speaker, once warned all the girls and women who are still single: “Before you choose a man to be your life partner and decide to marry him, never mistake his zealousness for his faithfulness… A man can be a great leader of various ministries and yet fails to be faithful to God or to his wife.”
Zeal or passion is an outward expression of a person’s inward faith, the genuine source of which is Jesus – “… the pioneer and perfecter of the faith…” [Hebrew 12:2]. First and foremost, I must beware of having mere-passion; I agree with Wigglesworth, “I find you can have zeal without faith.” I must remember how Peter had sunk not long after walking on the water.
Peter answered him, “Lord, if it’s you, order me to come to you on the water.” Jesus said, “Come on!” So Peter got down out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came to Jesus.
How passionate Peter was… for a while…
But when he noticed the strong wind, he was frightened. As he began to sink, he shouted, “Lord, save me!”At once Jesus reached out his hand, caught him, and asked him, “You who have so little faith, why did you doubt?” As they got into the boat, the wind stopped blowing. Then the men in the boat began to worship Jesus, saying, “You certainly are the Son of God!”
[Gospel of Matthew 14:28-33]
Secondly, acknowledging that passion and faith must come together, I must also know in what manner of passion I am expressing my faith. The faith that comes from any source(s) other than the genuine Source always results in a short-lived if not counterfeit passion, which can be attractive to or repulsive against the people around. Such kind of faith either awaits a rebuke or will be proved fruitless eventually. For instance, remember how James and John were so filled with zeal that they wanted call fire down from heaven!
When his disciples James and John observed this rejection, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” But he turned and rebuked them, saying, “You don’t know what kind of spirit you are! For the Son of Man did not come to destroy the souls of men, but to save them.”
[Gospel of Luke 9:54-56]
All of us go through moments of trials and temptations. During those moments, in one sense I grieve because of sins – my sins or others’, but in another sense I learn to rejoice because I will, being led by the Spirit of the Messiah, know more about myself – (1) whether my passion is a mere-passion or it is accompanied by faith and (2) if I say I’m moving by faith, whether my faith is drawn from the genuine Source or not – and I will then be able to change myself as I (continually) listen to and obey God’s clear instructions; I will then learn the difference between ‘holding to an outward form of godliness but denying its power’ [2Tim 3:5] and ‘having been rooted in Christ and are being built-up and strengthened in the faith’ [Col 2:7], pursuing the latter with joy and thankfulness, in the moments which are meant to test my faith.
My Theme In The Fourth Year
After the 3rd reunion anniversary with my Father was a week of holidays. As I spend some time quietly with God, I was kept being reminded about the importance of genuine relationships over religion, and this is my personal theme for the fourth year of my Christian life,
Right now three things remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Paul – [The First Letter to the Corinthians 13:13]
Campus life can sometimes be busy and stressful – we are human – and many times people find relief through religion. Nevertheless, I can go to and serve in church, serve in university and in school while keep studying hard to maintain if not improve my academic performance – I can do all those things and still not having a genuine relationship with my Father and his loved ones – you and I are his loved ones.
To practise mere religion is to have no relationship with God at all. Relationship is grown deeper between two beings only when one is continually communing with another. Mere merits through good deeds and ritualistic practices relate to religion, but a genuine relationship through Love, Hope and Faith leads us directly to God himself and, when we remain one with God,
“At that time you will know that I am in my Father, that you are in me, and that I am in you… the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things…”
Jesus – [John 14:20, 26]
Love, Hope and Faith underlie the foundation of genuine relationship between God and mankind. These principles are applicable among mankind ourselves as well. In my coming articles I will share about this theme of my 2008/09 term in University Malaysia Sabah (UMS), stressing on the importance on genuine relationships over mere religion. After that I’ll share my thoughts on Love, then Hope, and lastly Faith. But, as the saying goes, “Actions speak louder than words.” Pray that I’ll really grow in God this year.
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.
