. : j u n y i : .

2011-07-22T22:11:00.001+08:00

I don't dare lar.

Moving on...

2011-07-22T21:53:00.004+08:00

It's been two months! And I don't even know whether I want to continue doing this. =/

Life's been busy, life's been exciting, life's been beyond words. Hence the hiatus.

Need to start picking up writing again. Argh.

As for now, a thought to ponder:

Faith is not about feelings, faith is about choosing.

Strength

2011-05-21T10:52:00.002+08:00

Saul's son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and gave him strength in God.

1 Samuel 23:16

Thank You for the Jonathans in life.

For The Rest Of Your Life

2011-05-10T15:50:00.003+08:00

First jobs, especially when so many have gone before you, can have hazardous effects on your wellbeing. But then again, this is not restricted to you first job. Apparently it gets easier over time.

Physically, in your first job, or when you start a new job, you happily get to do all the menial tasks that the stable boy does. You show up at 7am in the office when the lights aren’t even on, and leave when the janitor gives you the funny look as she refills the toilet rolls at 11pm. But while the stable boy gets to play with the horses when he waters them, you get to play with the photocopying machine when your boss tells you to photocopy 500 pages, double-sided, stapled into landscape booklets ready for the meeting at 10am that day. And then for that same meeting, make 50 cups of coffee/tea, whichever each executive prefers and according to their tastes of milk and sugar and even the time of when they would want it during the meeting. After that, take minutes of the whole meeting, which means you can’t leave for a toilet break even though the others can, order their lunches, again according to each executive’s taste and from which store, miss your own lunch, and at the end of the meeting, clear up, wash the cups and collect the booklets that are left behind, and do what your boss orders again as response to the meeting. And you look at your boss who earns a 6-figure salary each month and wonder if you're ever going to reach there before you die.

Mentally, it’s pretty easy. You just know you’re going to do this for the rest of your life. And then it all goes downhill from here emotionally, financially, socially, and just your life in general. It’s so comforting to know this after you’ve slaved off for the past 15 years to get an education to prepare you for your oyster.

I don’t think our ancestors had it any easier, and it’s not likely our descendents will too. I can’t look into the future, but there are plenty of examples in history where we’ve got it all wrong if we think our lives are going to be what we expect it to be. Abaraham, Moses, David, Esther, Ruth, all the apostles, Paul, and, um, a whole bunch of other people in the Bible we haven’t got to know better, not to mention all the inspiring stories of people we hear about in our modern culture, and what about the people whom we are in contact with everyday who do great things but we just never see! These people started way off from where they ended up, and I have been assured by one of these people, who now can afford a comfortable vehicle and eating well from driving taxis and babysitting me, that I will not end up how I think I will end up. Ten years is a blink of an eye, he says, and many things can happen in ten years I’m sure.

And what he says is true. Apart from his personal experience, there is sound advice from Jesus himself, saying “who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? (Mt 6:27) Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Mt 6:34). To be frank, that last statement sound like something out of a self-help book rather than from the mouth of Jesus. But then again, the Bible is the best self-help book there is on the market, with Jesus being the only worthy motivational speaker, and God the incomparable movie director in the universe. Ever.

Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders You have done.

The things You planned for us no one can recount to You;

were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.

Psalm 40:13

Easter Sunday

2011-04-25T21:13:00.000+08:00

I know this is a bit late, but ya...

Blessed Easter.

Good Friday

2011-04-22T19:18:00.004+08:00

It's so easy to teach and preach,

But is your life on the same pitch?

It's so easy to do and do and do,

But is your life following through?

It's so easy to plan and organize,

But is your life focused on Christ?

Jun Yi, you are worried about many things,

but only one thing is needed.

Blessed Good Friday, everyone.

Vaporise

2011-04-07T20:14:00.007+08:00

How fleeting life is, that what we just encountered at one afternoon can depart us on the evening of the very same day. And we are not the victims; on the contrary, we are the perpetrators. On one angle, and scream and squirm at the fauna that pass along our tracks, or pluck or destroy in delight at the interesting flora we come across. And then we move to kill bugs even though we invade their natural sanctuary with our environmental holidays, after which it is killing nature in general when we erect our tents, mud houses, private bungalows and eventually multi-storey condominiums. In the hostel that I was staying at, I noticed more squashed brown beetles on the ground than there were previously. Thinking it was just a curious incident, I disregarded it until I chanced upon speaking with a child who was also staying at the hostel, and who confessed he had been stomping on them while he was here. I couldn’t react much after hearing it, since he was only a child, and I simply laughed it off saying that he was a cheeky boy. But in my heart I reflected that it starts with this mindless murder at an impressionable age that we can graduate to cutting whole sections of the forest without as much as a thought. And at that time, we know what we have not only taken away life, we have also killed ourselves. We have been reminded time and again by James in his 5th chapter and 14th verse, “why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes”. We know that our lives are under God’s mercy and judgment, but what makes us think that the lives of His creation are also not under the same, or that we can play God and take away life that He created? Yes, it can be argued that God told the Man in chapter 1 verse 28 of Genesis to “be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground”. But as subjects to our own powers and authorities of earth and of heaven, would we want to be subjects of a tyrannical ruler? “Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration. But my people do not know the requirements of the LORD.” Jeremiah 8:7 We are a mist, a vapour, a cloud that will vanish when the wind blows, or when the sun appears. And we are certainly not God that we can take away life, for in fact, God is the wind and the sun that can take us away at any moment. It is hard not be cynical or pessimistic when we know that our lives can be stomped out just like those beetles. One minute they are busy running their own errands, and the next they are struck down by an acute cardiac arrest, or more precisely a foot. One minute we are having fun mamaking with our friends, and the next our friends are the ones giving us a CPR to save our lives. And we can only cry out to the Lord, just as David did, “Show me, LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.” Psalm 39:4 or “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 And this is wisdom: life is better than death. Like fo’ shizzle. This focus on morbidity only leads us to focus on the grace of life, because why be dead now when you will be eventually anyway? In times of darkness and death, life and breath is even more prevalent. It makes us appreciate our blessings, be thankful for our trials, be grateful for our disappointments, and to love our sorrows. “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.” Ecclesiastes 9:10

One day.

2011-03-29T12:38:00.003+08:00

Better is one day in Your courts than thousands elsewhere.

Even when we feel like we can overtake everyone and everything else on earth, even when everything around us seem to be going our way, even when we feel like we are on the tip-top of the world, it does not compare to one bad day in the presence of God.

Life without God, even though it may be that we are aware we do not even feel God, is still something to be thankful for. The tears maybe more prevalent, the questions will be more angry, we can only see frustrations in our actions, and God will be blamed. And there are many people who have experiences such as these, and they wallow in self-pity and misery. They lament about how distant God is from them, how they do not have an identity, how they feel God is not speaking to them or giving them directions in their ministry, career, education, and life in general. But what is to be praised is that GOD is still in the picture! God is still being sought in all these areas of their lives! In fact, God is sought!

“Remember the wonders he has performed, the miracles and the rulings he has given, you children of his servant Abraham, you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.” Psalm 105:5-6

The very fact that we are His chosen ones is something to focus on in itself, not that God is distant, or that He does speak to us, or that our lives are a complete misery. But if we re-focus our attention to our God, we will remember the wonders He has performed, the miracles and rulings He has given , and how he chose us to be His children, and for Him to be our Father.

If there is any confusion about who we are or what we are, then know this: we are servants of the Lord, soldiers of God, and co-heirs with Christ. Know that servants and soldiers and co-heirs serve upwards to something. Know that is not what we do, or what He does, but simply WHO HE IS. Know that it is not for Him to work towards us, although that is happening all the time, but for us to work towards Him, be patient and wait on Him, be disciplined for Him. And know that He must increase, and we must decrease (John 3:30).

“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked." Psalm 84:10

Listen...

2011-03-22T22:15:00.005+08:00

20th March 2011 (Sunday)

Today's QT:

(From Numbers [23:26])

"Did I not tell you that I must do whatever The Lord says?"

(From Luke [1:38])

"I am willing to be used of The Lord."

(From Psalm [57:2])

"...to God Who finishes all things for me."

I'm tearing up my personal canvas.

This morning's worship is about God's faithfulness. That God remained faithful despite my unfaithfulness. And how as I looked back, He has been faithful over and over again. And I can trust Him to continue to do the same as I seek for the fuller canvas. As I seek to do what He wants me to do now. As I learn to remove all distractions.

"Great is Thy Faithfulness, O God my Father

There is no shadow of turning with Thee"

"And step by step You'll lead me

And I will follow You all of my days"

Thought of [a friend]'s advice - to take a step at a time. And as I take each step, following closely behind The Lord, I get to see that God will never turn away from me - no shadow of turning. Just speak volumes of God's faithfulness.

Taken from Jun Yi's Journal 20th March 2011

________________________________

Sometimes God speaks through lines in the Bible. Sometimes God speaks through lines in songs. But one thing we can be assure of, God DOES SPEAK. Especially when we need Him to. If only we're attentive.

Anymore, Lord?

Twitter

2011-03-22T21:47:00.001+08:00

Why does John Maxwell want to follow me on Twitter?

Still

2011-03-22T16:51:00.006+08:00

Hide me now - we cry. Sometimes we run. But we just can't run forever. No one has to strength to run forever. And so we hide. We hide ourselves from all the piling work. We hide ourselves from all the problems that need to be solved. We hide ourselves from people who think we know it all. We hide ourselves from relationships we do not want to confront. We like to play hide and seek don't we? We seek for shelter from all the world has to put upon us. And where's a better place to hide than being under Your wings? Just like a little bird hides under the wings of his mother, we seek protection and comfort under the wings of our Saviour. "Call me a sissy, a wimp, a coward - I don't care - all I need right now is Someone to cover me" - that's what really matters. We're just not strong enough to brave this world alone. We're just not brave enough to confront all that are coming unto us. We just want to hide within Your mighty Hand.

And guess what The Lord will do for you! “Come all you who are weary, and I will give you rest.” – isn’t that His promise? Rest. Yes, we can say to ourselves, “ Find rest my soul” because it is exactly what The Lord will give us. Forget the world. Forget the problems. Forget everything else and find rest in Christ alone. We dunno what is it, but somehow there’s something about Him when we go to Him. There’s this serenity above all else. Shalom – they called it. Something so powerful that our focus is solely upon Him – not ourselves anymore, nor the problems and the world around us. Oh how we wish everyone else will know His power, know His presence, know Him. That in quietness and trust, The Lord will reveal Himself to us and be our source of strength, our source of hope, our source of peace so that we don’t have to hide anymore.

Because, trust me, more will come! Your work will continue to pile up without you noticing it. Problems will surface after one another. People will come to you like you have more hours than them. Relationship is just unavoidable – there’s people everywhere! But these oceans and thunders that come our way will not trouble us anymore, because we know Whom we can go to, Whom we can trust. When the oceans rise and thunders roar – may it be earthquake or tsunami – why should I fear? Why should I worry? Just like the little bird hiding under his mother’s wings, one day he will soar side by side, one day he will brave the blue sky because he knows he’s not alone. Same with us, one day we can tell our Saviour – “I will soar with You above the storm!” because there’s nothing else we need to fear and worry. Equally important to knowing that God is with us, is to know that our God is also a God who is in control. He’s the Creator, He’s the King, remember? Whatever it is – thunder, storm, earthquake, flood of life might come our way, we know that God is in control. We acknowledge that “Father, You are King over the flood.”

If only we take the first step. To just stop running for a while. To just stop entertaining what the world is throwing at us. To just hide ourselves in Him. To just be still and know He is God. I will be still and know You are God.

"Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at Me, your High God, above politics, above everything."

Psalm 46:10 (The Message)

Still - Hillsong

Hide me now

Under Your wings

Cover me

Within Your mighty Hands

When the oceans rise and thunders roar

I will soar with You above the storm

Father You are King over the flood

I will be still and know You are God

Find rest my soul

In Christ alone

Know His power

In quietness and trust

I will be still and know You are God.

Designs

2011-03-08T00:42:00.004+08:00

Looking around, even in Malaysia, there is a vast range of designs, motifs, or architecture, that one can associate immediately typically to a certain group of people. And we haven’t even stepped outside to our neighbouring countries such as Thailand, much less around the world! Even so, these designs have many factors that decide them; time, place, or incidents form a complex concoction in a designer’s mind to create what we see today. If only we knew the wonderful mysteries of our cultures and world.

Recently an Australian friend came by to Malaysia for a visit, and he noticed little bulbs on Muslim gravestones. When he asked us why they were there, all we could answer was what we learnt in Form 4 (before the syllabus got ‘amended’), which was Muslims do not use nature of any form in their designs, simply symmetrical shapes to symbolize balance and order. This hardly seems like a satisfying answer, especially when we see them everywhere, mosques, the gravestones as my friend observed, and even on pictures on the wall. But for us, we have become so accustomed to it that we do not stop to think of its origins and purpose. For whatever reason behind it, we have been neutralized, or in fact westernized, by education, media, or modern thinking. These customs and symbols do not matter to us anymore, and we live for the here and now only, for our own selfish purposes.

It does seem like a more reasonable way of life, to let the past be past, and live towards our future. But what this modern thinking fails to carry is the character and substance of the past, the lessons learnt, the hard work and intimate process of creating what is truly interesting, detailed, precise, and beautiful.

Take for example a Minangkabau palace I used to visit while I was younger. I do not remember much of its history or culture, but what I do remember is that no nails were used at all in its entire construction. This does not seem like an unachievable feat since many buildings can boast the same, but at that time, to have such engineering prowess is the equivalent to Dubai’s Burj Al Arab or the Taipei 101 of today. The fact that a palace with no nails can stand, or a single 100-storey building can rise is something one can only wonder in awe.

Maybe I’m ignorant, and I definitely know I’m old school, but I somehow still think the more time you intentionally spend on something, the more you will love and regard it. No matter if it were back then, or now on this day, in Negeri Sembilan or Dubai, what the designer designs, his reasons behind its creation, his purpose of his creation, his constant thoughts and improvements to his creation; these only prove how he loves his work and his creations. As I mentioned of the past, the lessons learnt, the hard work and intimate process of creating what is beautiful, is in itself beautiful.

And we already know who the Grand Master Designer is, and what is His masterpiece is. Scientists and researchers can imitate or manipulate life, but God Himself can create, and give, Life.

God is pleased with His creation, as He “looked over all He had made, and saw that it was very good!” (Gen. 1:31). And more than that, God actually created us for His pleasure, for He “created everything, and it is for [His] pleasure that they exist and were created” (Rev. 4:11). And even more still, God created us for a purpose, as “God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure” (Eph 1:5).

Our Creator and Master is beyond time, space, and understanding. We might not see the details He made in us as interesting, or precise, or even beautiful. But why should we be angry at our Maker? When we love and create something, do we deliberately create in it faults and flaws?

“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
And knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous – how well I know it.
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
As I was woven together in the dark of the womb.”
Psalms 139:13-15

How we are designed is interesting, precise, and beautiful in God’s eyes. And we know that God is our highest authority, and more importantly, makes no mistakes in His creation.

Hands & Feet

2011-03-01T11:28:00.004+08:00

Hands And Feet

by Audio Adrenaline

An image flashed across my TV screen

Another broken heart comes in to view

I saw the pain and I turned my back

Why can't I do the things I want to?

I'm willing yet I'm so afraid

You give me strength

When I say

[CHORUS:]
I want to be Your hands
I want to be Your feet
I'll go where You send me
I'II go where You send me
[REPEAT]

And I try, yeah I try
To touch the world like
You touched my life
And I find my way
To be Your hands

I've abandoned every selfish thought

I've surrendered every thing I've got

You can have everything I am

And perfect everything

I'm not I'm willing,

I'm not afraid

You give me strength when I say

[CHORUS]

This is the lifetime I turned my back on You

From now on, I'll go so

Send me where You want me to

I finally have a mission

I promise I'll complete

I don't need excuses

When I am Your hands and feet

[CHORUS]

Click here for the live performance on youtube.

Welcome In

2011-03-01T01:58:00.005+08:00

It's got to come out before you can let anything in.

It was a passing statement by a friend in our conversation, and it kinda struck me. Recently I've been asking myself questions. About my work, about my ministry. About my life, about what I can do better. About being a good example, about youth ministry.

And so I read books. I do my quiet time. I pray to God. I serve in church. I share my feelings to another. I talk to people. I seek for answers. I observe myself with others. I listen to what people say. I ask what they think. And most importantly, I let God speak.

God reminded me about that it's not what I want, but what He wants. He reminded me about coming out my comfort zone to meet the needs of others. He reminded me about putting others first.

And so I try. Yes, I try. It was ok, going well, but I find myself coming back to Him again for the motivation. For the passion. For the desire. What's wrong? - I asked. Why is it so difficult to do just that, to put God first? To put others first?

And I realized, I can't put God (and others) first because someone else is. I can't let them into my heart because someone else is inside.

It's got to come out before you let anything in.

And that "it" is me. And I guess I was still being in the centre of the things I do, as much as I try to put others first. My friend was right in another choice of word to describe it - ego. My ego was the one driving me to do it, not God, not others. My ego was hurt when I fail. And that is why I fail. Probably the "I" needs to take a bow and be just another normal "i".

i need kick myself out of myself so that God can come in. So that others can come in. i need to take the "i" out of the "it", so that what remains is the cross ("t"). And the cross is what should be in me, an example of the agape love of God - love for others, for us which nailed Him there.

Get out, Jun Yi, get out. Come in, Jesus, come in. Come in, friends, come in. Come in, people, come in. Welcome in.

There will be times when that little "I" tries to find his way back in. But God, fill me enough with the love for others that there is no more space for it. And remind me again and again who rules my life.

"Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central...Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine", but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I am not going back on that."

Galatians 2:20 (The Message)

Welcome in.

The Purpose-Driven Life – Day 3

2011-02-26T13:42:00.002+08:00

Day 3 was a long chapter, hence why there were more underlined sentences. And of course, what should Chapter 3 be about other than “purpose”, hence all the underlined sentences.

Coming from personal experience, I can fully agree when Rick Warren writes that “the greatest tragedy is not death, but life without purpose”. Not that my experience was completely inspiring or motivating or challenging in any way to anyone who hears it, but for me, I can say that I’m not that keen on going back to the place without purpose.

For some time now, I have been in the midst of transition from one geographical area to another. On a grander scale, I have actually moved continents. And I think everyone can emphathise that whenever there is transition, there must always be a purpose in that transition, and unavoidably, there’ll always be those self-claimed wise men who would give you crack advice and confuse you even more. On one hand, it’s easy when Baby X is only 6 and has to move up from kindy to primary school because that’s what Mummy told him to do, and it’s likewise easy for Big Baby Y to move up from secondary school to college otherwise Mummy would disown him. I’m not saying that these ‘wise-men crack advice’ are not without grounds. Mummy really was just thinking about Baby’s future, and she’s trying all she can to secure Baby with any exposure, experiences, and memories Baby can get wherever Baby is in his life.

But on the other hand (dum dum dum), Baby needs to discern when advice is really for his good, and when Baby needs to decide his own purpose. Big Baby Y might feel that college is not where he belongs after all, and Mummy might even make the frustrated and confused state that he is in now even worse, making Big Baby’s struggle to find his real purpose in life blurred. And when there is no purpose, there is no hope.

I thank God that I was able to come out of that little hopeless state that I was in, having no motivation to do anything, thinking about life on a different side, and wishing that I should have just stayed put. But humans are pretty funny, and I think God has something (or everything) to do with it. The more I thought about all the wise-crack advice people were giving left-right-and-centre, the more frustrated I got, the more emotional I got, the more I complained, to more I listened to myself complain, the more I advised myself, the more I reasoned with myself, the more I prayed, the more I calmed down, the more I trusted God, the more I began to have a purpose again, because “without God, life has no purpose, and without purpose, life has no meaning. Without meaning, life has no significance or hope… Hope comes from having purpose.”

I can’t say I have found my purpose in life quite yet, it is only my third day after all, but at least for this new year I know I’m not going to be hopeless and purposeless. I know now I have to calm down, keep still, quieten my heart, listen to the tiny whisper that has been drowning this far, and respond in the direction that that Whisper tells me to go. For as God himself tells me through Timothy, “But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done, but because of his own purpose and grace” (2 Tim 1.8-9). It was His own purpose that we be proud servants for God, and me still being confused about God’s ultimate and clear purpose for me is not something that our Loving Father wants.

God's purpose for us is to have a purpose in Him. It took me some time to figure that out, but I’m thankful that at least I did. I hope and pray that whatever you do has a purpose in Him too.

Sacrifice

2011-02-12T23:38:00.006+08:00

Romans 12.1

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship”.

The owner of this blog will pretty much die this weekend. From what he tells me of his timetable, including his break time of watching Liverpool lose which to me sounds more like labour than leisure, it’s very likely he’ll turn into a living zombie than a living sacrifice.

But previously before this, I have never actually known the real meaning of a living sacrifice, until he literally acted it out for me: that is to be a complete tireless slave for Christ no matter what the outcome is.

I can’t say I’m very spiritual, nor am I very active in my ministry, and much less am I learned in the word of God. In fact, if not for my confession that I am a Christian, other people probably will not see me as one. But in Romans 12.1 Paul calls me to act in worship to God. What good is my confession of being a Christian when my actions and intentions show otherwise? Perhaps my friendship with Jun Yi balances out the work-play scale.

So Jun Yi tells me that he had a late night on Thursday, attending a meeting with members of a church and SUFES about organising a camp, and then the next day off to dreary ol’ work again after which there was a rehearsal for his own church’s youth event until say about midnight, (and then watching football again of all things), and then a crazily early morning the next day on Saturday (in which there should be an international constitutional law against) to hold a convention at a school until the afternoon, and then straight to the youth event itself (which I was told didn’t have that great a turnout anyway =[). Sunday hasn’t happened yet but I can guess it’s going to be church and CNY visitations and captianball and futsal and movies and mamak and snooker and journaling and whatever and ever…

He needs his own travel itinerary.

There are many faults with his weekend of course, the most obvious being simply too busy to live, but no one can deny that he is not working at every sense of the words of Paul. God’s mercy is for everyone, and all of it as well. Since God has given everything, we are in no position to say that we cannot return Him the same. God offered His Son, Jesus’ body to the cross. Again we are in no position not to offer our whole bodies as a sacrifice to Him. God has called our every action as worship, even the most mundane things, and Jun Yi’s every action is for the ministry and expansion of God’s kingdom. What I can learn at least from this guy’s lifelessness and lack of time even to drink his Teh Ais is that I know I can do more, especially for the One who loves me even in my lazy bumming ugly self.

James 2.26

“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead”.

Dear Loving Father,

Thank you for Your own sacrifices You have given to me, and thank You for Your wholly accepting and unconditional love You have towards the worthless me. Thank you also that while my own love is found wanting, and limited to my human understanding, Yours is beyond measure, beyond time, beyond space and beyond my own comprehension. Please forgive my lack of motivation and perseverance, and help me to find that first pure love that You have so freely and gracefully given to me. I pray that You use these hands according to Your will, and also give me the courage to face the challenges that may come my way. In all things, Father, I pray that I will be your humble and pleasing instrument for You, and that while I may sacrifice the pleasures the world may offer, I will never give up the privilege of serving You.

In your Son’s most precious name,
Amen.

_______________________________
Anonymous.

Er...

2011-02-12T02:35:00.001+08:00

Let's try to make the prayer updates bi-monthly.

Haha.

Prayer Updates

2011-01-27T03:20:00.002+08:00

Another new thing I want to introduce here is to write a monthly update on my work and ministry for prayers - if there is still any readers here haha. But ya, also for myself to reflect on what I've been doing monthly, and perhaps getting use to writing reports.

Let's see how it goes, let's wait for the January one soon. Hopefully. Haha.

Indecision - Anonymous

2011-01-17T22:32:00.003+08:00

First post by a guest writer!

_________________________________________

Indecision

Hopeful person: “New year, new start. Right?”

Indecisive person: “Yes? No. Maybe? Can you repeat the question? What?”

Guess which one am I. And I know I’m worse than that.

Perhaps it’s human nature, perhaps it’s a gender thing, perhaps it depends on one’s personality, or perhaps it’s simply a person’s indecision, but we can’t deny that we haven’t seen someone, or have ourselves fussed over a which colour shoes to buy, or on a grander scale, which bit of the beach to see on prime real estate along a strip of sand and sea first thing in the morning.

Even as my editor, ahem, gave me this assignment, I was at a loss at what to write. He hardly gave any instructions until I pushed for them, and even when I asked for a topic he coolly mentioned ‘open topic’, or the much hated answer one gets when asked for a preference or choice, ‘anything la’. After some thought in the shower, I reflected on how much I needed guidelines and boundaries, or better yet, a goal to aim towards every time I start something in my life. Sure he can tell me ‘don’t do this’, ‘stay away from that’, ‘must be before then’, but that simply means I’ve only eliminated three things I know I have to do, while I have a million other ways to muck up this writing piece. And the other examples where this has happened to me, to name but a few, writing my assignments, how to decorate the church for Christmas, what TV show to watch at 4am in the morning because I have lotsa download at 4am in the morning. Need I say more?

And to a point, we can certainly point fingers at the affluence we have today. We constantly hear encouraging, nay, empowering sayings like “The World is in Your Hands/Your Oyster”, “Live the Dream”, “It’s Just a Click Away”, so that we can persuade ourselves that we are in control of our lives, or be deluded in thinking Life is just waiting for us around the corner. But here I am, the little tiny me, refuting what I myself want so badly to believe. While it is true that we have the world in our hands, strangely in the form of a mollusc, it seems that we are as lost as ever, blind as ever, and very sadly, dead as ever.

To be honest, I am a victim to such instant gratification as well. I have grand dreams of travelling the world, seeing new places and faces, learning new languages and eating strange delicacies, and simply immerse myself in what the world has to offer. And I really believed that I could do that by just throwing a dart absent-mindedly on the World Map. But I remind myself time and again, as difficult and tiring as it is, that this is only what the world has to offer. On the other hand, I have a much more comforting assurance, that no matter where I go, to the deepest south or the highest north, God has everything to offer, and we only need to follow His directions.

Just open your Bible, and then open your mind. God gives us so many directions, instructions, promises, guarantees, providences, but we never seem to listen. And I am the first to admit this, and this is a lesson to myself. I need to open my mind and listen. My God is a constant God. He never fails, and He never falters. Even though I can’t hear Him sometimes, that’s probably when He’s a bit too busy to talk because He’s working the hardest for me to hear Him.

So in the past few nights, as I have doing my quiet time, out of obligation more than anything else, I learnt a few things that Gad has patiently been waiting for me to learn. I realise how shallow minded I am as I get caught up in worrying and thinking, and generally going ‘argh!’. I needed to slow down, think, and remember God.

So here’s Lesson 1.

I always thought that the miracle of feeding the crowds happened during Jesus’ time, but again He reminds me why He should be any different in 2 Kings and during the New Testament. When He used Elisha to feed the hungry people during a famine, even having “plenty for all and some left over, just as the LORD has promised” (5:44), it struck me how it was exactly the same as when Jesus performed this miracle. Silly me, it was ‘promise’ God made, and He fulfils it with Jesus, so why should it not happen now where God would provide for me needs, and even have leftovers? This is how God tells me to have faith in Him, trust Him, and believe in Him.

Then there’s Lesson 2, which is a bit scary.

Daniel in the second part of chapter 5 interpreted the writing on the wall to the immoral and frankly rather gross King Belshazzar. And if I were in his position, I would not want to scorn an immoral and gross king. With all his power, influence, and wealth, he could do away with me in a flick on a finger. But Daniel, with all his wisdom, strength, and fear of the Lord, told the King to keep the gifts he promised to the successful interpreter, and straight up said that he has not “honoured the God who gives you the breath of life and controls your destiny!” (v.23). History has always told us that this defiance would call for an instant guillotine, but Daniel in spite of all this, knew that the person he needed to be more afraid wasn’t Belshazzar, but God. And this is what the devotional writer poignantly observes, “Daniel feared Belshazzar so little because he feared God so much”. I need to know whom I fear, whom I follow, and whom I listen to. Hear his instructions!

And finally, Lesson 3 is a cruel awakening.

I’m a bit grudging the thought of having a working life in Malaysia after spending so many years in a peachy first-world country. No, I take it back; I’m in fact, a lot grudging the thought. Applying the “The World is my Mollusc” adage personally, I feel I have been unfairly cut the smaller slice of peach by Life. But from previous lesson, I learnt that Life and God are not the same, and they should never, ever be because without God, there simply isn’t life. I realised that wherever I work, I have “the same Master in Heaven, and He has no favourites” (Eph 6:9). This may have come late and rather abruptly, but I am thankful it came all the same. I am not a slave to Life and what it tells me, I am a slave to Christ, and wherever I am, He is still my Boss, and these are still His people. In no way should the little tiny me stand in favourites of one to another in front of my great and almighty God. Wherever I am, I need to serve the Lord and His people with all my heart and mind and soul, because I already know my citizenship is in Heaven, and that is my goal.

1 John 2: 17 (NIV)

“The world and its desires passes away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”

__________________________________________

The writer wants to remain anonymous. :)

Guest Writers

2011-01-17T22:26:00.002+08:00

This year, to increase the number of posts in this blog before it dies, I've decided to have guest writers. Haha. And currently I have one! Hehe.

You are free to write anything, you just need to have a picture and a Bible verse in your post. :)

Let me know if you're interested. Wait, I beg you guys to be interested. If not, this blog is going to be dead. Haha.

Check out the first one soon!

Selah

2011-01-02T23:18:00.002+08:00

Jun Yi needs to have his Starbucks moment to start the year.

Selah time.

Heaven on clouds

2010-12-16T18:52:00.001+08:00

When and where did the idea of angels playing harp come about?

2010-12-16T01:15:00.003+08:00

16 December 2010

Love People

2010-12-14T10:01:00.005+08:00

Love God, love people.

³⁷ Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’40The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

Matthew 22:37-40 (NLT)

We know the greatest commandment. Love God. And equally important, love people. Yup, that is it. Love God, love people. Hm.

Do to others what you want them to do to you. This is the meaning of the law of Moses and the teaching of the prophets.

Matthew 7:12 (NCV)

For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Galatians 5:14 (NIV)

Yet, when Jesus and Paul summed up the entire law, it's only one - love people. Love people?! Is loving people actually more important than loving God Himself? Don't we have to love God more than we love people? Why is loving people the crux of the law, and not loving God? And doesn't it sound so wrooooooooooooong? That loving people is more important than loving God.

But that's not what it meant. No way loving people is more important than loving God. It's equally important, remember? Then, why Jesus and Paul would sum up the entire law as loving people and not loving God instead? Why put the cart before the horse? Two reasons.

One, we love people because we love God. And that is what loving God is all about isn't it? Loving God includes loving people.

The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You've got to love both.

1 John 4:21 (The Message)

Loving God includes loving people. That's why it's equally important. I wrote about this once before. Read here for more. That's why the law can be summed up as one - love people. Because if we can't love people, we can't love God - it goes hand in hand.

We love people because we love God.

But I want us to focus more on the second reason. These few lines are probably very familiar:

Give all glory to God.

Let God be the centre of your life.

Glorify God in everything you do.

Is God The Lord of your life?

Give God your best because He deserves only the best.

It's all about Him.

It's all about Jesus.

You know the cliche phrase that we always use - It's all about God, and not ourselves? Well, I'm not saying it's wrong. In fact, it's very true, and we should continue to live our lives in the knowing that it's all about Him. But I want us to think a little bit further. What would God think/feel when we said it's all about Him? How would God respond? Is our God a God who just sits at the throne and waiting to be worshipped and served? Is our God a God who doesn't do anything and delights only in Himself? Is our God an egocentric and conceited God? Is our God a self-centred God?

No. A big resounding no. You know what God says when we say it's all about Him? He says back to you: No, it's all about you. Yes, God says back to you:

It's all about you.

It's all about you, it's all about them, it's all about the people. That's why God didn't just stop at loving God. Equally important, God wants us to love the people around us as well. Because, the people is all He cares about. The people is all that matters to Him. If not, why would He send His only Son to die on the cross for us? If not, why would Jesus say - I come to serve, not to be served? If not, why would He even bother to come out with a perfect plan of salvation? Cause ultimately, God did it for us! Because God loves us!

And that's why the entire law is summed up as loving people. We love people, because God loves people. And that's why Jesus came, and that's why it is said that Jesus fulfilled the law, because He did exactly it - to love people. God loves people. And guess what, people includes you.

God loves you.

We love people because God loves people.

Let that thought sink in you. Remember what God has done for you. Remember His love. Remember the cross. Remember who He died for. And then, go. Go, and love people.

We love people because we love God.

We love people because God loves people.

Strength

2010-11-13T01:23:00.003+08:00

When a heavy workload comes your way

There are two responses you can choose to play

You can let your workload overwhelm you

Or be overjoy and know God will enable you to

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13

2010-11-07T23:14:00.000+08:00

Tell me about it.

Ignores.

Justin Bieber

2010-11-04T04:51:00.002+08:00

Was "Baby baby baby ohhh" suppose to be "Jesus Jesus Jesus ohhh"?

Bieber confessed he's a Christian. Read here.

Sick, yet again.

2010-11-01T22:46:00.000+08:00

What does a sick person say to another?

I'm sick of you.

BBT

2010-10-23T20:17:00.001+08:00

Leonard: Have you consider telling her how you feel?

Sheldon: Leonard, I'm a physicist not a hippie.

Leonard: What would you be if you're attached to another object by an inclined plane wrapped helically around an axis?

Sheldon: Screwed.

Big Bang Theory never fail to make my day.

Idiotic Idioms

2010-10-23T02:21:00.004+08:00

When is a person most godly?

Answer: After his/her bath because cleanliness is next to godliness!

What is a doctor afraid of?

Answer: Apple because an apple a day keeps the doctor away!

That's all I can think of, good night people.

Awakening

2010-10-20T01:21:00.002+08:00

Awakening - Passion.

Currently on my playlist.

Our God and How He Loves are ringing in my head now.

Mountain

2010-10-19T23:42:00.002+08:00

He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Matthew 17:20

Mountains. I've never climb a mountain before. Wait, does Gunung Jasar count? But that's easy. Barely any hiking. But those big mountains? Nope. I dunno how hard it is. But I know climbing mountains is not an easy feat. We're talking about Kinabalu, Tahan, Alps, Kilimanjaro and even the great almighty Everest. Ok, probably the former two aren't that tough to conquer. But still, it takes preparation - physically and mentally. It might take effort, but it's not impossible. People conquered those mountains before, it's possible. Climbing mountains is possible. But that's not what we're talking about here. Jesus didn't ask us to climb mountains. Jesus asked us to move mountains. MOVE mountains?! You know what, that's crazy.

Yet, Jesus said it's possible. With faith. Even as small as a mustard seed. With words. Not by strength or a bulldozer, but with strings of alphabets. And guess what, the mountain will move.

Yeah right.

Mountains are familiar places in the Bible. In fact, mountains are significant places in the Bible. Right from the time of Abraham, to the time of Jesus. Not only are these mountains mentioned significant, they are somewhat an obstacle to be conquered. A problem. A challenge. A mountain, which needs to be moved.

Abraham has his Mount Moriah. Asked to bring his son up the mountain to be sacrificed, his one and only son, after years of unfruitfulness, I mean decades of unfruitfulness, you must have wonder what he must have felt. Sure he wanted the mountain to be moved. Sure he wanted it to disappear from Google Earth just like that. You bet he wanted it to be moved so much. But was the mountain moved? Nope. But was he disobedient? Nope. Did he lose faith? Nope. And instead, God moved him. God provided for him. God blessed him. And in the end, Mount Moriah was moved. It's now called The Lord will provide - Jehovah Jireh.

Lets just fast forward to Jesus and skipped the ones in between. (I'm sleepy)

Jesus. No stranger to mountains. He was there to pray before choosing the twelve disciples, and many other occasions. Remember Mount of Transfiguration? He met Elijah and Moses there. And how can we forget Mount of Olives, in the Garden of Gethsemane? His sweat was like drops of blood. But I want us to walk a little bit further, to Calvary. To stroll this place called Golgotha. In fact, it's no big mountain, it's probably a small hill which looked like a skull (hence the name Golgotha - The Skull). Small it might be in size, but it definitely looked big before Jesus. Bigger than any other mountain. This is one huge mountain He wanted to be moved. He prayed with sweats of blood to be removed, remember? It's His death before Him. His own. Who doesn't want such mountain to be moved away? But was the mountain moved? Nope. But was He disobedient? Nope. Did He give up? Nope. Instead, God moved the world through Him. God provided us salvation through Him. God is our blessing through Him. That mountain, was moved. Not from Him. But from us. The big mountain - the cross - the sins of the world - was moved from us through what Jesus has done. Jesus took the mountain upon Himself. He moved it, for us.

Mountains are moved. Abraham believed, and Moriah becomes Jehovah Jireh. We believed, and Calvary becomes salvation for us. And that is one big mountain God has moved for us.

Now, probably there are still other mountains in your life. The Moriahs. The Sinais. The Olives. The Alps. The Kinabalus. The Everests. It may come in the form of cancer, one big pile of unending workload, a divorce paper, death of a loved one, or financial bankruptcy. Whichever it is, these mountains are big mountains. We climb and climb and climb, but the peak is no where to be found to be conquered. But guess what, God doesn't want you to just climb it. God wants you to move it. Move it. With faith. Even as small as a mustard seed. With words. Not by strength or a bulldozer, but with strings of alphabets. And guess what, the mountain will move. And not by your own strength and will, but by God's. God will move it for you. If God can move the Mount of Calvary, can He not move this little (in comparison) mountains of yours? And you're only required to do one thing. Trust. Believe. Faith.

Give God your mountain.

Transparency

2010-10-19T02:22:00.003+08:00

People are attracted by transparency.

Girls are attracted by transparency of the heart,

while guys are attracted by the transparency of the garb.

Sadly, but true.

Guys, we need to change.

Generosity

2010-10-02T01:52:00.004+08:00

Generosity has a new meaning to me today.

I was at a stationery shop, to do some photostating, and I was struck by the services provided. How he tried his best to meet my needs without me asking. The owner insisted to help me to adjust the margin cause it was out of proportion even though I didn't ask to. I even said it's ok, he didn't have to, but he persisted and "wasted" two copies. Hey, that's loss on his end k. I was printing a few pages from a few books too, and again, he offered to help to enlarge the size of the page to fit the whole A4. He wasn't very good with the photostating and it kinda took some time, and a few other customers were waiting. Still, he took his time to make sure I got the best, even if it's only photostat copies which are merely 10 cents per copy. I was rushing for time actually, but hey, I wasn't even in the mood of complaining and rushing because all I can do was to marvel at his attitude of giving his best service no matter what. Wow.

And I was quickly reminded of the Second Mile Principle which I read from a book some time ago:

Be the Second Mile Society.

It's Not About Me, Max Lucado

³⁸"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' ³⁹But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. ⁴⁰And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. ⁴¹If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. ⁴²Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Matthew 5:38-42 (NIV)

During Jesus' time, the Roman soldiers were allowed to force Jews to carry a burden for them up to a mile long. Jews were treated like a tool, nothing more than a donkey or a cart to be used. And what do we usually do when we felt "used" - in this case, like the Jews? We complained. We grumbled. We do it unwillingly. We probably even cheat to make sure we do the minimum. But what did Jesus suggest instead? Go the second mile for him! After you finished your first mile, look into the eyes of the Roman soldier and said, "Hey, why don't I go another mile for you? =D (yes, smiley included)" Nobody does that! Yet, this is what Jesus has called us to do. To give more than we're asked for. To go beyond the required, not just bare minimum. To give our best in our services. To meet the needs of others without being asked. To be the Second Mile society.

I've made a goal recently to practice generosity each day. This is to teach myself to put others ahead of me, to think of myself less. Whenever I think about spending on myself, I shall make it a point to use the money to spend on others. Along the way, I've also learned to be generous not only in terms of dollars and cents but also in my time and effort. To spend time with people even if I don't feel like to, to help people even if I have loads of other work to do. I ask myself every morning, how can I be generous today? and try to make it a point to show generosity in one way or another. So far it has been good, of course, there are days when I found myself not being generous but I'm trying my best.

And the incident this evening has taught me a whole new meaning of generosity. Sometimes, we tend to think of generosity as something we can give. The more the better. Keyword: MORE. Quantity. We think that as long as we give something, we are being generous. The more we give, the drier our wallets, the less time we had on ourselves, the more energy spent, we are more generous. But boy, I'm wrong. Generosity is not about me. It's not about the quantity. It's not about the amount of money I've spent. It's not about the time I've given. It's not about the effort I've drained. It's not about me. We can give so much, and feel good about ourselves that we gave, but at the end of the day, do we know whom we've given to, why do we give it to at the first place? Do we just give for the sake of giving, to satisfy my "need" of being generous? Generosity is not about me. Generosity is all about others, it's all about meeting the needs of others. Sometimes, we can give so much, yet it might not meet the need of others. It might not be what they even needed at the first place. Generosity is about quality. It's about how much am I going to make sure your needs are met. It's about me giving my best in things that I do - whether in terms of time, money or effort. It's about me going beyond what I'm required to do. It's about me giving more that I'm asked for. It's about meeting the need of others without being asked. It's about going the second mile.

Generosity is not just that the shop owner giving me a 50% discount (though I don't mind that too =P), but him giving his best in his work to make sure my needs are met, to get what I'm paying for, or in fact, more than what I'm paying for. And trust me, you'll be much more satisfied getting the latter.

So as you give, give with the aim to meet his/her needs. And give your best shot in doing it.

Be the Second Mile Society.

p/s: Who wants to be next in my generosity list? =D

Welcome...

2010-09-28T00:00:00.000+08:00

Sir Emsley

The Elevator

2010-09-26T02:12:00.003+08:00

You are my Strength - Reuben Morgan

You are my Strength

Strength like no other

Reaches to me

You are my Hope

Hope like no other

Reaches to me

In the fullness of Your grace

In the power of Your name

You lift me up

Unfailing love

Stronger than mountains

Deeper than oceans

Reaches to me

"The Lord who lifts me up"

The Elevator

5-12 Sept 2010

毅

2010-09-26T01:50:00.005+08:00

Amazingly, the one act of the will that produces energy rather than depletes energy is surrender.

Surrender actually replenishes our vitality.

The Me I Want To Be, John Ortberg

毅 - perseverance/will power

I'm a person of strong will. That's my name's meaning. I rely a lot on will power. I always try harder. And I realized when I read the book (mentioned above), I was wrong. All these while. Will power will only get me this far. Because I'm only human. I'm not perfect and I'll never be. I'm a sinful creature, and I'll be until Christ comes. No wonder I failed so many times, I tried to rely on myself, on my own will power, instead of surrendering it to God. I need to try softer instead, I need to surrender. I need to change my name to surrender. I shall no longer be called "will power".

Lord, I surrender.

15 Sept 2010, Jun Yi's Journal Volume 8

Kaa-chaaaaang!

2010-09-18T01:46:00.003+08:00

Question: What song do you play during a 3pm worship session?

Answer: Open the eyes... (of my heart)

This is what happens when you feel sleepy during afternoon workshops.

Latest Read

2010-09-05T00:09:00.003+08:00

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

Thanks to Christ, this earth can be the nearest you come to hell.

But apart from Christ, this earth is the nearest you'll come to heaven.

3:16 - Max Lucado

2010-08-02T01:15:00.002+08:00

A new blog post: Coming Soon.

2010-07-23T00:23:00.004+08:00

People don't care how much you know

until they know how much you care.

Care, I must.

2010-07-19T22:54:00.002+08:00

Sir Langley has a new brain. =(

Encourage

2010-07-01T01:48:00.003+08:00

When all things that surround me

Become shadows in the light of You

And life is worth the living -

Just because He lives

I want to give my best to You

Approved in everyway

Persevere

2010-06-28T00:29:00.004+08:00

I asked myself:

Why am I doing all these for?

And Paul replied:

For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

My Brain

2010-06-09T01:26:00.004+08:00

Currently, I have a few windows running on my brain desktop.

Copa IBA - Running.

World Cup - Running.

SAGC Family Camp - Running.

Dennis & Joe's Wedding Dinner - Running.

DU CF Camp Message Preparation - Running.

SU Carnival Malacca - Running.

CG Lesson Preparation - Running.

Been switching between these windows for time to time. Oh not forgetting, some of these windows have a few tabs opening at the same too. Meanwhile, there are other windows yet to be given attention.

SAGC Prayer Month - Minimized.

Segamat Youth Message - Minimized.

SU Staff Consultation Preparation - Minimized.

Other Camps - Still in folder.

CF Visits - Still in folder.

It's a matter of time before my brain hangs. Or crashes. And that's the last thing I want to happen. Please pray hard for me kay? Haha. Thank you!

"...For the joy of The Lord is your strength."

Nehemiah 8:10

Updates

2010-06-08T00:58:00.003+08:00

The grass is always greener on the other side.

Family.

No matter what's the number, we're touching lives.

Vision without commitment is always visionary.

Yup, that basically sum up Camping Training & Consultation.

(21-26 May, Tapah & Cameron Highlands)

Hallelujah - Lee DeWyze

2010-05-20T01:16:00.000+08:00

This made me tear.

2010-05-16T21:59:00.002+08:00

You don't have to work in anything...your job is to be yourself, and my job is to love you no matter what.

Kurt's dad, Glee

Tough

2010-05-05T02:52:00.006+08:00

¹ David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, ² and had taken captive the women and all who were in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way.

³ When David and his men came to Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. ⁴ So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. ⁵ David's two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. ⁶ David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.

1 Samuel 31:1-6 (NIV)

When the going gets tough

Remember God is enough

2010-05-01T14:33:00.001+08:00

You commit by opening yourself.

Mercy

This Dance - Five For Fighting

2010-04-28T00:21:00.000+08:00

Love is Blind

2010-04-27T23:04:00.007+08:00

Love is patient. Love is kind. Love is blind.

Love is blind. So says the world. Because of this four-letter-word called love, the world goes haywire. Just shout whenever, and we'll be there for the one we loved. We'll buy anything, we'll buy any ring for the one we loved. Ahhh, too much Justin Bieber stuck in my head. But ya, we'll do anything for the one we loved, don't we? As if we were blind to anything else but him/her.

Blind. There are two ways one can be blinded. One, as each and everyone of us know, we're blinded by darkness. When it's all pitch black, we can't see anything. When it's all dark and gloomy, we can't see anything. We're blinded by darkness.

Ya, we know that we can't see anything in darkness, but is there any other condition that we can't see also? When there's light, we can see, can't we? Yes, there's another way that we can be blinded. Just like total blindness makes us blind, total brightness makes us blind too. When there's nothing else but light in all its brightness, we can't see anything. We can't see anything but light. Just try looking at the sun, and you realise you find it hard to just continue looking. Light in all its brightness blinds us. We're blinded by brightness, too. Just like how light blinded a person I knew.

^1-2 All this time Saul was breathing down the necks of the Master's disciples, out for the kill. He went to the Chief Priest and got arrest warrants to take to the meeting places in Damascus so that if he found anyone there belonging to the Way, whether men or women, he could arrest them and bring them to Jerusalem.

^3-4He set off. When he got to the outskirts of Damascus, he was suddenly dazed by a blinding flash of light. As he fell to the ground, he heard a voice: "Saul, Saul, why are you out to get me?"

^5-6He said, "Who are you, Master?"

"I am Jesus, the One you're hunting down. I want you to get up and enter the city. In the city you'll be told what to do next."

^7-9His companions stood there dumbstruck—they could hear the sound, but couldn't see anyone—while Saul, picking himself up off the ground, found himself stone-blind. They had to take him by the hand and lead him into Damascus. He continued blind for three days. He ate nothing, drank nothing.

Acts 9:1-9 (The Message)

Oh, I know this Light too.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

John 8:12 (NIV)

And guess what, I'm part of this Light.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.

Ephesians 5:8 (NIV)

Love is blind.

Which blinding love do you want to fall in?

Which blinding love do you want to show?

2010-04-26T19:47:00.001+08:00

Doctors give people second chance.
And we all deserve second chance.

Drew Suffin, Scrubs

Impressions

2010-04-23T17:10:00.003+08:00

Our first impressions are generated by our experiences and our environment, which means that we can change our first impressions ... by changing the experiences that comprise those impressions.

Blink, Malcolm Gladwell

Latest Read

2010-04-19T00:03:00.002+08:00

Everything will work out in the end.

If it's not working out, it's not the end.

Courage is fear that has said its prayers.

Fearless, Max Lucado

Alarm Clock

2010-04-10T00:49:00.005+08:00

8.50am. "Are you going to work today?" Oh no. Dang. I'm late.

8.45am. "Wake up, it's already 8.45." Ah, not again. Hush. I'm already late.

8.20pm. "Time to eat dinner." Bweh, yet again. Bath. Dinner. Jamming session, late.

Was it just me, or my alarm clock hasn't been functioning? Three times in a row since yesterday. It must be the alarm clock. It must have failed. Definitely. No doubt. Confirmed. Time to get a new one, which is a new phone to be precise. Hehe.

My alarm clock failed me. And an alarm clock that fails, is not an alarm clock. An alarm clock that doesn't ring is not an alarm clock. An alarm clock, is also not an alarm clock, if it rings but fail to wake the owner up. An alarm clock, is not an alarm clock if it fails its purpose. Physically, yes it is still an alarm clock. It exists as an alarm clock. But does it 'live' as an alarm clock? An alarm clock that fails to live up to its purpose is not an alarm clock. And what is the purpose of an alarm clock? To wake me up. To ring loud enough to wake me up. To do whatever it needs to do to wake me up. (Of course, that's not possible humanly speaking haha) And my alarm clock failed to fulfill its purpose for the past three occasions. My alarm clock failed to live up to its name and purpose, hence it's not an alarm clock.

Purpose. Every single thing on this earth has its purpose. Every single created thing on this earth has its purpose. And write this down: Nothing is created for nothing. Nothing. All things are created for something. All things are created for their own purposes. And when I said all things, I mean all things. (Allow me to use the word 'create' interchangeably with the word 'invent' or any other word with the same meaning) The purpose of an alarm clock is to wake its owner up. The purpose of a chair is to support the person sitting on it. The purpose of a car is to transport a person from one place to another. The purpose of a pair of spectacles is to enhance the vision of a person. Every single thing on this earth has its own purpose. Yes, for some, we might not know. We don't understand its use. We wonder why it even exist at the first place. But we need to realise, we're not the creator. We do not create it. We don't set the purpose for the creation. And who knows best the purpose of an object but the creator himself? And a creator doesn't just create for nothing. Even if it's for fun, its purpose is for fun, isn't it? Nothing is created for nothing. Everything is created for a purpose.

And guess what, you too have a purpose. If everything is created for a purpose, and you are a created being, doesn't that mean that you too, have a purpose? Yes, you do. Sometimes, we felt, we're useless. Sometimes, we wonder, why do we even exist at the first place. Sometimes, we question, whether our births are just mere 'accidents'. Sometimes, we search, but we do not find our life's purpose. And most of the times, for most of of us, we gave up. We gave up living. Just like my alarm clock, we chose to just, exist. We gave up living, because we fail to live up to our purpose. We failed to live up to our purpose because we think we were created for none. But you're wrong. You're so wrong. We need to realise, we're not the creator. We don't create ourselves. We can't. And who knows best the purpose of you but the Creator Himself? Who knows best the purpose of you but God Himself? Most importantly, God did not create you for nothing. Nothing is created for nothing, remember? You are created for a purpose.

Rick Warren gave us five - worship, fellowship, ministry, discipleship and evangelism (The Purpose Driven Life). The Westminster Shorter Catechism summarizes it: The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. This is our purpose. This is our life calling. This is what we're created for. This is what we are to live for. This is our purpose. And God called us to fulfill our purpose in different places, in different ways, in different generations, in different circumstances. For some, it might be at the ends of the earth. For others, it could be just at your backyard. For some, it might be as a missionary. Or a pastor. For others, it could be just as teachers. Lawyers. Doctors. Engineers. Politicians. For some, it might be to a stadium-packed audience. For others, it could be just a small gathering of family and friends. But wherever it is, whoever you are, whatever background you're from, whichever generation you live in, God has a purpose for you.

You are created for a purpose.

"For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed."

Acts 13:36

This is one verse I want to be written on my tombstone.

How about you?

It's 2.26am now. I set my alarm to 2.30am. Oh, it rang. It was me after all. I guess I need to get more sleep.

Good night.

Movies

2010-04-08T21:39:00.002+08:00

Life's better with company. The plane needs a co-pilot.

Ryan Bingham, Up In The Air

Stop trying so hard to be someone you're not.

Gobber, How To Train Your Dragon

Easter Sunday

2010-04-04T21:45:00.005+08:00

Living, He loved me

Dying, He saved me

Buried, He carry my sins far away

Rising, He justified freely forever

One day, He's coming

Oh glorious day, glorious day

Glorious Day, Casting Crowns

Holy Saturday

2010-04-03T10:17:00.005+08:00

Today is Holy Saturday. A day we usually forget. We remember Good Friday and Easter Sunday, yet, how often we miss the one in between. Why not, it's rarely, or if not mentioned at all in the Bible. Luke said the women rested. Matthew, Mark and John just mentioned it's the Sabbath, and people are not suppose to work on a Sabbath. It was as if, it was a day of no significance. No importance. Just another day. Holy Saturday.

But it's not. We need to remember, for without Holy Saturday, Good Friday will not passed away. Without Holy Saturday, there will not be Easter Sunday. Holy Saturday marks the day where Good Friday ends, and most importantly, Easter Sunday is ahead. It is a day, where we wait. Wait. Oh what a word, wait. We all don't like to wait, do we? We want everything fast. We want everything now. We basically have 3-in-1s for almost everything. We're living in such a fast-paced world that it just can't wait for us. We're living in a world where the word 'wait' does not exist. Wait - what does that mean? Wait.

And that's what Holy Saturday is all about, wait. The waiting day. The anticipation day. The dreading day. And because of this 'waiting day', Easter Sunday is much sweeter. Easter Sunday is much more joyous. Easter Sunday is much more meaningful. Easter Sunday is, Easter Sunday. It's like a football team, the one we support, 1-0 up in a Champions League final with 5 minutes of additional time to go. Ah, how we dread those moments don't we? We can't wait for the time to pass, can we? It always felt like the time passed by so slowly, isn't it? The nail biting moment. The moment where the second hand of the clock sounded so clearly. The moment we can barely put our eyes on the tv screen. The moment when, once the final whistle is blown, we'll jump in celebration. In ecstasy. In sheer delight. High fives. Fist in the air. Shout of joy. Just like, yes, just like, when Christ was risen from the dead. Just like when Christ conquered death. Just like, when Satan was defeated. Just like, when we know, that Jesus is the Lord our God. Just like, when we know, it's Easter Sunday.

But today, let us just wait. Let us wait today, for today is Holy Saturday. Wait.

Because tomorrow, yes tomorrow, it will be Easter Sunday.

Good Friday

2010-04-03T01:53:00.001+08:00

Question: Why?

Answer: Accept.

Thank You.

2010-04-03T01:47:00.001+08:00

Why do you call Me good?

No one is good, except God alone.

Today is Good Friday.

Father

2010-03-31T16:05:00.009+08:00

Fa-ther [fah-ther] (fä'thər)

1. A male person whose sperm unites with an egg, resulting in the conception of a child

2. A man who adopts a child

3. A man who raised a child

4. God

5. The First Person of the Godhead Trinity

6. A priest or clergyman in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches

7. Used as a title and form of address with or without the clergyman's name

Jesus used the word Father to refer to God about 110 times in the gospel of John, more than all the other three gospels combined. And on each occasion, He either refer to God as My Father, or The Father. Jesus' Father. God the Father is Jesus' Father.

Except for one occasion. When God is not only The Father. God is not only My [Jesus'] Father. But, but, but... (wait for it...)

God is also YOUR Father.

Your Father.

Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"

John 20:17 (NIV), italic mine

Jesus called God your Father. And notice the significance of the occasion. It was to Mary, when God first appeared after His resurrection. Notice the significance? No, not Mary. OK, she is significant alright, being the first to see the resurrected Jesus. But notice when Jesus said it. Before the cross, Jesus referred to God only as His Father. My Father. The Father. But after the cross, after His resurrection, God is now not only Jesus' Father, He is also your Father. Jesus acknowledged that God is now not only His Father, but God is also your Father. Our Father.

Because of what Christ has done for us on the cross, we can now call God our Father. Because of His act of love and sacrifice, we can now call God our Father. Because of His resurrection, we can now call God our Father. Because of His power over death and Satan, we can now call God our Father. And how wonderful isn't it, to have God as our Father? A Father that never fails. A Father that always be there. A Father who knows what's best for you. A Father who always love. A Father who is Love Himself.

Thank You, Jesus.

Thank You, Abba Father.

All for love, the Father gave

For only love could make a way...

All For Love, Hillsong

Blessed Good Friday & Easter, everyone.

Work Work Work

2010-03-23T00:20:00.003+08:00

Those three things - autonomy, complexity, and a connection between effort and reward - are, most people agree, the three qualities that work has to have if it is to be satisfying. It is not how much money we make that ultimately makes us happy between nine and five. It's whether our work fulfills us. If I offered you a choice between being an architect for $75,000 a year and working in a tollbooth everyday for the rest of your life for $100,000 a year, which would you take? I'm guessing the former, because there is complexity, autonomy, and a relationship between effort and reward in doing creative work, and that's worth more to most of us than money.

Work that fulfills those three criteria is meaningful.

Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell

Is your job meaningful?

Bald

2010-03-20T12:24:00.003+08:00

Jun Yi wants to do this, but too late to sign up edi. =(

But he'll still be going bald. I guess. Haha.

My Boss

2010-03-09T13:42:00.004+08:00

Remember, your boss is God.

Choo Chiew Jynn (=p)

Sometimes we tend to forget just that - who we are serving at the end of the day. As an engineer. A salesman. A teacher. A politician. A student. A doctor. No matter who you are and your vocation, we all work under the same company. God's. God's Inc. God's Sdn Bhd. God's business. Despite the different 'departments' we work in, we all have one CEO.

But most often than not, we fail to act that way. We fail to realise and acknowledge God as our Boss. We come in late. We back stab and gossip about each other. We misuse company's resources. We slack in our work place. We do the minimum. We bend the rules for own profit. We betray our fellow colleagues. We work as if God doesn't know, God doesn't care, and sadly, God doesn't exist.

We need to change our mindset. And the Bible is clear about that.

^5-8Servants, respectfully obey your earthly masters but always with an eye to obeying the real master, Christ. Don't just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ's servants doing what God wants you to do. And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you're really serving God. Good work will get you good pay from the Master, regardless of whether you are slave or free.

Ephesians 6:5-8 (The Message)

^22-25Servants, do what you're told by your earthly masters. And don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn't cover up bad work.

Colossians 3:22-25 (The Message)

God is the real and ultimate Master we're serving. You don't serve the government. You don't serve your teacher. You don't serve your employer. You don't serve your organization. You serve God. And in serving Him, nothing less than the best is expected.

Give our best.

Who are you working for?

p/s: Thank you lar for the reminder Choo Chiew Jynn. Hehe.

Enough

2010-03-02T13:57:00.003+08:00

Each of us have three legitimate questions regarding money:

First, "Will I ever have enough?"

Second, "Will it continue to be enough if I ever do have enough?"

And third,"By the way, how much is enough?"

Keeping An Open Hand, Ron Blue

From the book A Life of Integrity

All of You, is more than enough for, all of me,

For every thirst and every need,

You satisfy me, with Your love,

And all I have in You is more than enough

Enough, Chris Tomlin

Stars

2010-02-24T16:26:00.005+08:00

Do everything without complaining or arguing. Then you will be innocent and without any wrong. You will be God's children without fault. But you are living with crooked and mean people all around you, among whom you shine like stars in the dark world.

Philippians 2:14-15 (NCV)

Stars. We are called to shine like stars.

I like stars. Honey Stars. Starfish (=D). Starsports. Star Wars. Wait, probably not. But seriously, I do like stars. I could gaze at them the whole night. Ahh, miss those college times where the stars were visible all nights, unlike the city sky. And as I read through this verse, it reminded me of those times. Stars. We are called to shine like stars.

Why the analogy of stars? Why not the moon or the sun? Or firefly or torch light?

Just like stars, people look at us. People gaze at us. People inspect us. Stars are placed in the dark night sky so they'll stand out. And because they stand out, people notice. People realize. And people look. The same it is with us. We are called to be stars because we live in a 'dark' world. A world of crooked and mean people all around us. Are as stars, we are called to shine. To stand out among the darkness. So that people can see us. People can see the difference we make. And they will. They surely will. The question is, how much are we standing out? How bright are we 'shining'? Remember, people do look at us.

The light of a shining star that we see travels thousands of years but it reach our naked eyes. And sometimes, the star has already died while we're still enjoying its sparkle. Christians are the same. We shine. Sometimes, we shine bright. But, to no effect. People's lives around us remain unchanged. They don't notice. We wonder why do we shine when there isn't any apparent effect on others. Now. In the present. Yes, it might not be obvious now, but one thing we can be assured of, our 'light' too, travels thousands of years ahead of us. Ok, probably not thousands. But people will see, that's for sure. Probably not now, but they will. In fact many lives are actually touched by testimonies of people who have long called home. And it could be yours too. Continue to shine and don't give up.

Some nights, we find it hard to spot a single star on the sky. Yes, it can't be starry all day all week all month all year long. One, it could be cloudy. The clouds prevent us from having a good glimpse of the stars. The clouds prevent us from seeing the shining stars. How about you? Do you have clouds in your life? Are you being hidden and blocked by these clouds in your life that are preventing you from shining? Clouds of sin. Cloud of disobedience towards God. If yes, it's time to blow them away. To blow away the clouds that are preventing people from seeing you shine. Second, it could be the bright city lights drowning the shining stars. That's why we find it hard to see stars on the city sky. And sometimes, we too, as Christians are being drown by the world. The world value systems has crept into our lives and overshadow what we are supposed to be. The light of the 'city' has taken over our place as stars to shine in this dark world. We need to get rid of what the world has tried to influence and be different. Be different, and shine even brighter!

I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.

Revelations 22:16

And let the bright Morning Star be our example as we continue to shine like stars.

2010-02-23T00:38:00.001+08:00

We won't always agree, but we should always forgive

2010-02-20T04:30:00.000+08:00

2010-02-18T03:37:00.001+08:00

It's Ash Wednesday.

It's the beginning of Lent.

Shadow

2010-02-12T14:21:00.005+08:00

Shadow.

Definition: A dark figure or image cast on the ground or some surface.

A shadow follows you wherever you go. You stand still, he'll do the same. You run, he runs. You go up the stairs, he's right behind you. A shadow will never leave you. No matter how hard you try to get rid of it, you just can't shoo him away. He sticks with you through the thick and thin, fat or thin too. A stubborn creature (or whatever you call it to be) I tell you. Persistently and consistently there beside you, in front of you, behind you. A shadow will never leave you. YOUR shadow will never leave you. Unless. Unless. Unless, you're in total darkness. Unless you stand in total darkness. Unless you run in total darkness. Unless you go up the stairs in total darkness. When there's darkness, there's no shadow. When there's no light, there's no shadow. When there's NO LIGHT, your shadow disappears. Oh by the way, the definition of shadow above is incomplete.

The complete definition: A dark figure or image cast on the ground or some surface by a body intercepting light.

Without light, there's no shadow. You need to be in the light to have a shadow. And because you're in the light, your shadow will never leave you. Never.

And you know what, there is another one who will never leave us just like our shadow. Some called him the Counselor (John 16:7 NIV). Some called him the Friend (John 16:7 The Message). To others, He's the Advocate (John 16:7 NLT). Also known as the Helper (John 16:7 NCV). Most importantly, He's the Holy Spirit (John 16:7 CEV). The Holy Spirit. Just like a shadow, the Holy Spirit never leaves you and will never leave you. He sticks with you through the thick and thin, fat or thin too. Persistently and consistently there with you, for you, in you. The Holy Spirit will never leave you. Unless. Unless. Unless, you're not walking in the Light. Unless, you choose not to accept God into your life. Unless, you choose to live all by yourself. Jesus said, He's the Light of the world (John 8:12 NIV). So, unless we have Jesus, the Light of the world in our lives, we do not have the Holy Spirit. We need to have Jesus in our lives to have the Holy Spirit in us. And because we do, because we are Christians, the Holy Spirit will never leave us. Never.

The Work of the Holy Spirit

⁵"Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' ⁶Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. ⁷But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. ⁸When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁹in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; ¹⁰in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; ¹¹and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

¹²"I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. ¹³But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. ¹⁴He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. ¹⁵All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

¹⁶"In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me."

John 16: 5-16

And what does the Holy Spirit do?

Convict the world of guilt in regard to sin, righteousness and judgment (v.8-11)

Guide us into all truth (v.13)

Bring glory to God (v.14)

Make things known to us (v.15)

And most importantly,

Giving us a glimpse of Jesus in and through our lives (v.16)

Are you in the Light?

Ridiculous Riddle

2010-02-12T11:00:00.002+08:00

Question: What follows you wherever you go?

Hint: He's black.

I Like Strawberry Jam

2010-01-25T23:13:00.002+08:00

Usually I take 90 minutes to travel to and fro work. Crazy Kesas - Summit jam took me 50 minutes every morning.

Today, I took 50 minutes to travel to and fro work. Only 20 minutes to work if I leave after 9 am.

So, I shall leave after 9 am every morning.

Place of Uncertainties

2010-01-23T23:06:00.003+08:00

Place of Uncertainties. We all have our own place of uncertainties. New. Undiscovered. Unknown. Unpredictable. Place we will be or going to be, yet we hesitate even to make the first step. Should I take that step? Should I move on? Should I go forward? Place of uncertainties.

The Bible spoke of many place of uncertainties for many people. Places of where God use to speak. To teach. To mould.

Noah.

Place of Uncertainties: The Flood

Lesson learnt: Trust

Abraham.

Place of uncertainties: Canaan

Lesson learnt: Faith

Joseph.

Place of uncertainties: Egypt

Lesson learnt: Perseverance

Moses.

Place of uncertainties: The wilderness

Lesson learnt: Obedience

Joshua.

Place of uncertainties: Across the Jordan River

Lesson learnt: Courage

Where is your place of uncertainties? And behold, as you take that step, know that God has something in store for you.

Starfish: I wanna be with you forever!

2010-01-23T01:28:00.000+08:00

2010-01-12T01:10:00.002+08:00

1st day

Beautiful Day - U2

2010-01-01T22:26:00.004+08:00

The heart is a bloom, shoots up through stony ground
But there's no room, no space to rent in this town
You're out of luck and the reason that you had to care

The traffic is stuck and you're not moving anywhere
You thought you’d found a friend to take you out of this place
Someone you could lend a hand in return for grace

It's a beautiful day,
the sky falls and you feel like
it's a beautiful day,
Don’t let it get away

You’re on the road but you’ve got no destination
You’re in the mud, in the maze of her imagination
You love this town even if that doesn’t ring true
You’ve been all over and it’s been all over you

It's a beautiful day,
Don't let it get away
It's a beautiful day,

Touch me, take me to that other place
Teach me love, I know I’m not a hopeless case

See the world in green and blue
See China right in front of you
See the canyons broken by cloud
See the tuna fleets clearing the sea out
See the bedouin fires at night
See the oil fields at first light
See the bird with a leaf in her mouth
After the flood all the colours came out

It was a beautiful day
Don't let it get away
A beautiful day

Touch me, take me to that other place
Reach me, I know I'm not a hopeless case

What you don’t have you don’t need it now
What you don’t know you can feel it somehow
What you don’t have you don’t need it now
You don’t need it now

It's a beautiful day...

December

2009-12-28T14:40:00.002+08:00

Summing up December 2009:

CUN Camp 3 - A cup of Starbucks

Christmas - I celebrate Christmas because it's His birthday

Christmas

2009-12-25T01:15:00.002+08:00

I believe that Jesus is truly the only way

I celebrate Christmas because it's His birthday

2009-12-16T06:30:00.002+08:00

Martha 1:0 Mary

Glory

2009-11-14T01:35:00.002+08:00

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us...And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Romans 8:17, 28-30

No pain

No saint

2009-11-01T02:59:00.001+08:00

Another presentation later.

De-ci-de

2009-10-29T03:01:00.006+08:00

Where proof is possible, faith is impossible

John Ortberg

_________________________________

Decision made.

2009-10-29T02:43:00.002+08:00

Cause everytime I close my eyes

I thank The Lord that, I've got you

And you got me too

And everytime I think of it

I pinch myself 'cos I don't believe it's true

That someone like you loves me too

Everytime I close my eyes

Babyface

Day 14

2009-10-16T02:21:00.002+08:00

"I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out - plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. When you call on Me, when you come and pray to Me, I'll listen. When you come looking for Me, you'll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding Me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed."

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (The Message)

_____________________________________

Day 14 (14/10/09): Time to make a decision.

He thought of me...

2009-10-12T21:20:00.002+08:00

God thought of you, do you think about Him?

Crucified, laid behind a stone

He lived to die, rejected and alone

Like a rose, trampled on the ground

He took the fall, and thought of me

Above all

Acceptance vs. Approval

2009-10-08T03:18:00.004+08:00

¹But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. ²At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. ³The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group ⁴and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. ⁵In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" ⁶They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. ⁷When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." ⁸Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

⁹At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. ¹⁰Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"

¹¹"No one, sir," she said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

John 8: 1-11 (NIV)

Acceptance. Approval. Where do we draw the line?

How do we accept someone yet disapprove his actions? Receive the person but reject his deeds? Not condemning and yet not condoning? Love the person but not his wrongdoings? How? Well, if Jesus can do it, and if Jesus asked us to do it, we need to, don't we? Thanks, that's helpful. Sorry for being sarcastic but that's the fact of the matter. Easier said than done. We know it's never easy. It's never easy. Never.

If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.

We've been in those shoes, don't we? Just like the Pharisees (though not with the intention to trap Jesus). We caught someone in sin. We were disgusted. We questioned. We judged. We condemned. We were hurt. And most importantly, we stoned. Though not literally, but back in our minds, the person was stoned to death. We gave up mercy. Yes, she deserved to be stoned, but don't we too? We gave up hope. It's too much for me to take it, but is it not for God too? We gave up love. It's so hard for me to love her as it was before, but didn't God continue to love us? We gave up. We cast the first stone.

Then neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin.

But what if she's not repentant? Or what if she felt sorry, but changed not? What if she tried to but failed? What if she goes back to her adulterous life? And what if, she really did? And I wonder what would Jesus do if He caught her again. Hm. Will Jesus this time cast the first stone? What would Jesus say to her?

Go now and leave your life of sin.

And if she sins again?

Go now and leave your life of sin.

And again, again, again, again and again?

Go now and leave your life of sin.

No way. No way. NO WAY. Yes, even I don't think so. Doesn't this show that God is condoning her actions? Doesn't this show God approve her wrongdoings? Doesn't this show God allow sins to continue to rule her life? No. God didn't say:

Go now.

Full stop. Period. Case closed. Nope, but God said:

Go now, and leave your life of sin.

Leave your life of sin.

God still, yes, God still waits for the repentance. God wants the repentance. And even if you don't the first time, He'll ask for it the second time. And third. Fourth. Fifth. And you get my drift. But doesn't God's forgiveness has its limit? When's the point of no return? When will God stop offering His forgiveness? When will God 'cast the first stone'?

I don't know. Seriously, I don't know. I really don't know. But what I do know is, God has yet to cast the first stone at me. So how can I? How can we?

And for those who are in the shoes of the woman, repent. Repent now. No, His forgiveness does not give you the license to continue sinning. Yes, God doesn't condemn, but neither did He condone. That's why we need to leave our lives of sin. And that's what He ask us to do. How on earth, I said it again, HOW ON EARTH can you go on sinning after you experience His love and forgiveness? So how can you? How can we?

Acceptance, but not approval.

And that is what we are called to do.

Words

2009-10-07T17:00:00.003+08:00

My mind tells me I'll never understand God.

My heart tells me I'm not meant to.

Faith is something I've yet to received.

Angels & Demons

Sometimes life comes up with a better idea.

Marley & Me

Human lives are defined by their weaknesses.

The Reaper

Harder...

2009-10-06T03:11:00.002+08:00

It's even harder when people start questioning you and what you do.

Friend's blog

_________________________

Day 4 (04/10/09): And yes, I emphatize with you.

Troubled

2009-10-06T03:06:00.002+08:00

Do not let your heart be troubled. Trust in God...

John 14:1

______________________________

Day 5 (05/10/09): Thank You Lord for the reminder

Jesus, Jesus - how I trust Him

2009-10-04T00:54:00.003+08:00

I'm so glad I learned to trust You

Precious Jesus, Saviour, Friend

And I know that You are with me

Will be with me to the end

Jesus, Jesus - how I trust Him

How I've proved Him o'er and o'er

Jesus, Jesus - precious Jesus

O for grace to trust Him more

It's So Sweet To Trust In Jesus

Louisa M R Snead

____________________________________

Day 2 (02/10/09): Thank You Lord for the assurance

Jun Yi foresees...

2009-09-29T04:11:00.003+08:00

...a busy life until the end of the year.

Good thing I guess.

Meanwhile, click here and here for the October busyness.

Oh, and another presentation on the 1st week of November.

Unique!

2009-09-19T02:49:00.002+08:00

Among all the alphabets ( A - Z ), which is the most unique one? Why?

Among these numbers ( 1- 10 ), which is the most unique one? Why?

Please comment.

Thanks.

I shall come out with my answer soon. =D

Him not her

2009-09-10T22:49:00.002+08:00

Like Only A Woman Can

Brian McFadden

I wasn't perfect

I've done a lot of stupid things

I'm still no angel

I wasn't looking for forgiveness

Wasn't laid out by my pride

Shocked by her attention

And someone signed me up for love

I didn't want it

And now I can't live without it

She changed my life

She cleaned me up

She found my heart

Like only a woman can

She pulls me up

When she knows I'm sad

She knows her man

Like only a woman can

She's kind of perfect

She's kind of enrything I'm not

Yeah, she's an angel

And it's amazing how she's patient

Even more at times I'm not

She's my conscience

And who decided I'd be hers

I wanna hate them

Cos now I can't live without her

Chorus

Like only a woman can

And who decided I'd be hers

I wanna hate them

Cos now I can't live without her

Chorus

Like only a woman can

________________________________________

No, it has nothing to do with a her. In fact, this song reminds me a lot of Him.

2009-09-06T02:32:00.001+08:00

What do you do when it's 5am and you can't sleep?

Thank God for Astro on Demand!

(Finished 20 episodes of You're Hired)

Answers

2009-08-29T09:41:00.001+08:00

When God said wait, you wait

When God said no, you take a break

Wen God said yes, you go ahead

When God didn't say anything, you continue to pray

Movies

2009-08-27T17:59:00.002+08:00

The brave are simply those with the clearest vision of what is before them. Glory and danger alike, not withstanding them, go out and meet them.

Kate & Leopord

To deny our impulse is to deny the very thing that makes us human.

Matrix

Power is when we have every justification to kill but we don't.

Schindler's List

har-har

2009-08-19T14:09:00.003+08:00

Jun Yi tries to be funny again.

Do we have guardian angels?

Answer: Yups, in the form of a pharmacy.

(Guardian pharmacy if you don't get it)

_____________________________________________________

Forgive my obsession of pharmacies. Click here for the previous one.

On a more serious note, I think we do. =)

⁹ If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-

¹⁰ then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.

¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;

¹² they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

Psalm 91: 9-12 (NIV)

Sick

2009-08-14T17:09:00.002+08:00

I was sick last week. And with all the buzz about the H1N1 disease spreading around, I decided to be cautious this time and see the doctor. Ya, I don't usually. So, it was just a normal sore throat and flu, and slight fever. Sounds familiar. Hm.

Anyway, I thought, wouldn't it be cool if I die on my birthday? Written on my tombstone:

11/08/86 - 11/08/09

Lue Jun Yi lived for 23 years on this earth.

Nothing more, nothing less.

(Kay, probably a few hours)

Cool isn't it? Hehe. Anyway obviously, I did not have H1N1 and obviously, I did not die.

Oh well, probably next year. 24 is a cool number. Two dozens of life. 24 is so the new 21.

And thanks everyone for the wishes. =)

p/s: Sir Langley is back from the hospital! And this is the 1st post by him after the operation. =D

Trust

2009-08-07T15:47:00.006+08:00

^22-24One day he and his disciples got in a boat. "Let's cross the lake," he said. And off they went. It was smooth sailing, and he fell asleep. A terrific storm came up suddenly on the lake. Water poured in, and they were about to capsize. They woke Jesus: "Master, Master, we're going to drown!"

Getting to his feet, he told the wind, "Silence!" and the waves, "Quiet down!" They did it. The lake became smooth as glass.
²⁵Then he said to his disciples, "Why can't you trust me?"
They were in absolute awe, staggered and stammering, "Who is this, anyway? He calls out to the winds and sea, and they do what he tells them!"

Luke 8:22-25 (The Message)

Trust. This whole passage speaks of one thing: trust. Take note of Jesus' first words in this incident.

Let's cross the lake.

Not clear enough? Let me enlarge and bold it for you.

Let's cross the lake.

And yet the disciples could not trust Him to bring them across the lake. Oh, probably they missed it. Probably, it was just one of the phrases which went in your left ear and came out the other. Probably, Jesus spoke too softly. Probably, it was too noisy. Probably, Jesus didn't know that the storm was coming. Probably, they were just too afraid. And probably, the fear has overtaken their trust in Jesus.

They probably have tried everything they could to overcome the storm. Bring down the anchor! Rooted. Hurl the unneccesaries to the sea! Almost all. Bucket out the water! Not enough pails. Everything, they tried but failed. 'What else can we do?!' they cried. And suddenly, they remembered Jesus.

And it is worth noting what Jesus was doing throughout the journey. He was sleeping. Of all things, He was sleeping. Probably He was tired. Been preaching and ministering to people all day, and praying all night. Ya, He must be tired. He's human after all, you know. So there, what a good time to take forty winks. So He slept. He slept so soundly that not even the loud storm outside could wake Him up. Not even the water dripping down on his cheek could wake Him up. Not even the shaky bed could wake Him up. But one thing could and one thing did - the cry of His disciples. The need of His people. He woke up, brushed off the water on his cheek, got himself a firm stand on the floor and silenced the wind and waves. And the lake became smooth as glass. Wow. That's Jesus for you, isn't it? Always there to meet the needs of the people. Never fail to be there when You need Him.

But He has a question for them. And the same question He asked them, He ask us today.

Why can't you trust me?

Why can't we trust God? In life, storms are bound to come. The Tsunamis. The Katrinas. The storms of life will never fail to meet us when we least expected them. Remember, it was smooth sailing at first for the disciples. Until...

Job retrenchment. Failed exams. Broken relationships. Loss of a loved one. And the list goes on and on and on and on...

And we tried our best we could to overcome the storms through our own strength. Our own effort. Our own willpower. Our own...you name it. And most importantly, we were afraid. And just like the disciples, we often missed out on the promise of God for us. In fact, the many promises of God written in the Bible for us!

As we come to an end of the book of Philippians in Teens' CG, I couldn't help but to notice the many promises God has laid out for us.

When you feel like a loser and need a confidence booster:

...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6

When all things went wrong as your faith tries to remain strong:

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Philippians 1:21

When your good works in God don't seemed to work:

...continue to work out your salvation without fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Philippians 2:12-13

When your ministry seems to be just vanity:

Welcome him [Epaphroditus] in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life...

Philippians 2:29-30

When everything was lost and God's your only Source:

What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things...

Philippians 3:8

When the past was a losing streak and the future seems bleak:

...forgetting what is behind and and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13-14

When life on earth is not of worth:

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Philippians 3:20-21

When happy is the last word in your dictionary:

Rejoice in The Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Philippians 4:4

When you start worrying and need the peace which transcends all understanding:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

When you feel weak and need strength within:

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13

When you're in need and in search of a friend indeed:

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

If only we would trust in Him and claim it! And this is only from the book of Philippians. Imagine the many many many many more promises of God in the Bible!

And just like Jesus who calmed the storm for His disciples, our God is a faithful God, He will carry out his promises for us no matter what! Yes, even when you think He was sleeping.

But let us not wait until He has to ask that question, let us just do what the disciples did not:

Trust.

And the mystery of all mysteries about the miracle:

Did Jesus go back to sleep after that? =D