Passion

Today was AGM after combined service.

Overall, I felt really discouraged by the session.

Since I'm blogging here, I will post my thoughts with utmost frankness.

Point 1 - I agree that times are down and bad and the whole world is going nuts over how to survive another day. But what about us as Christians? Do we need to worry like the world does? Did Jesus not feed the 5000 and even the 4000 on another occasion? If it is not known to anyone, Jesus actually needed more bread and fish to feed the 4000 than the 5000!

So what do I think about the economy and budgetting? 

Yes I agree we need prudence! We need to know how every cent is spent in the church to prevent anyone from falling into temptation by money, BUT let us not be blinded by the constraints of the economy. Let us stop worrying so much about how the economy will affect our church's progress.

You and me serve GOD, not money. So beat it Devil, you shall have no stronghold in our Church in JESUS' NAME!

Point 2 - Want to know how many salvations and attendees for the events, especially for the youth? I would say please look back and if anyone does not remember, it WAS reported that Le Grande had 60 visitors and 6 salvations!

If you are reading my posts and wondering why the over-reacted posts, it's simply because I cannot stand the questions asked during AGM and I was the chairman of Le Grande. 

I feel hurt by the judgemental criticisms/comments/remarks/questions.

Here's my views for whoever is interested:

1 - Tell me any events ever in WRPF history that had 6 salvations during the event itself. I can hardly remember. If you do, please tag me and remind me. I will thank God for that and keep it in my heart.

2 - Tell me is it a rationale to compare dollar for every soul saved? Then can anyone explain why events that costs tens of thousands cannot gain more souls that 1 Le Grande which costed about 3k?

3 - Tell me if I am wrong, that the youths and Young Adults did not put their efforts into the 2 events? I still remembered Le Papillon's organisers in Church the night before, trying to rush out every detail to make sure the event would be presentable. And Le Grande, does anyone know how many people were involved and how much manpower was put into it? 

Seriously I have so much more to blast out here but I refuse to. For the Glory of God and may God have mercy on me, I pray that we are doing our individual best for God and not stand one side criticising what others are doing for God and forgetting what they are really trying to achieve. 

I thought AGM was all about God's House and His business.

Yet today it felt like a circus to me; a joke. 

I hope we did not have any visitors sitting in today, may God forgive us for our ignorance.

Finally to my dear readers, I hope to let you understand that I believe in using every effort to reach out and win souls for God, no matter what the cost! 

And that our lives would show how true our faith is in Christ. No need for evaluation. God sees our hearts and He will know. So why not start living out our lives the way God wants us to!

Higher

Jesus was raised from the dead by God.

God can do the same for my finances, for my work/studies and even my relationships.

He can do the same for you too.

He can set you free from your sins.

Do you want Him to?

God bless!

I don't understand

There it was, the trip I did not expect to sign up for.

I did, on that day I took the form.

I did not know and I did not expect the unexpected.

I told God I don't know how I would handle it.

I asked Him to show me how or make a way for me.

In the end, I guess He really did. 

I'm confused. So many possiblities running through my mind. 

Should I have never agreed to go?

If there is one thing I've learnt, 

God is faithful in every seaon and I should (or must) trust in Him.

Jesus, Lifter of my head I hold on to You

Praise the Lord

God is good all the time and

all the time God is good!

Church income has increased in 2008 despite the downturns and I choose to believe that it was God who has provided all this time.

May we continue to trust in Him to bring us through every season and let us not be in want for He is our Good Shepherd.

Warriors of God rise up and know that He has never forsaken us in our crusade for Christ =)

Easter

Today is Easter. This week was remembrance of Jesus' death and resurrection.

I am reminded once again of His great Love, Agape love that supercedes everything.

Jesus loves me this I know,

For the Bible tells me so.

This week went by really quick since it was a 4 day work week.

Got to see how God worked in my camp with my friends.

I pray that one day, they will come to know You Jesus.

On a side note, I was speaking to A Mary today and heard a news that kind of surprised me.

I don't know how I will handle it but I guess God has a plan =)

Jesus loves you and me!

The reason I live

And this day, I dedicate this post to You.

You who came to this world;

To take all my sin and shame;

To make a way for me;

Irregardless of who I am or what I had done;

You loved me and You still love me.

This is for You, Lord Jesus!

Fairness?

At a recent competition of the Nationals’ Inter-Schools Badminton round robin, I have very strong reasons to believe a questionable judgment was made. Anglican High and Maris Stella High were involved in this incident were playing against each other, deciding who will proceed to the next level of the Nationals which is held yearly.

The match was played over 5 games, namely 3 singles and 2 doubles games in the Lower Secondary Division, commonly known as the C’ Division in the school sporting scene. The event came down right to the very last moment as both sides had won 2 games each, the school that wins the final singles game will win the match and eventually proceed to the next round robin.

As it was held at Tampines Indoor Sports Hall and the match was the last game of the day that was ongoing, spectators from other participating schools and onlookers gathered around to watch the single deciding game that meant a lot to both schools involved.

The game went on to a 3^rd set that dragged on even to deuce at 20 plus points, which in the badminton scene is quite a rare occasion. Both sides were determined to enter the next round. I happened to be a graduate from Maris Stella High; I feel that Singaporeans need to know that the local schools sporting scene does not only promote excellence but should also enforce honesty and fairness in every sport.

Right down to the crucial moment, my school’s player dived to receive a smash from his opponent and managed to receive the shuttlecock over the net. He won the game point. The line-judge, who was from a third-party school, declared the shuttle in the court (which was very obviously within the court) to the umpire(also known as the referee). My school team jumped to their feet, rejoicing and cheering over the victory they would had gave away just moments ago.

At this point, the umpire did not announce the results and which school was the winner, which was questionable as the Rules state that the umpire must declare the winner immediately once the game point was won. The umpire was then seen by many speaking to the opposing team’s head coach, who is a well-known name in the local badminton scene, before declaring to my school’s team that they actually lost as he had judged the shuttlecock out of the court.

This was contrary to the line-judge’s decision and I believed many spectators at the game. My point here is why did the umpire not declared the winner immediately as the Rules stated?  And by having spoken to the opposing team’s coach in private, what happened to affect his final decision in declaring the winning team?

I am encouraged to hear that Singapore will be hosting the Youth Olympic Games, which would bring together the world’s finest youth athletes. Yet, such incidents that might be happening around in the local sporting scene has brought up doubts in my heart such as fairness in the sporting scene.

I am disappointed to know that my school’s team has lost their chance to proceed to the next level. Though having submitted their appeal to the Convener for the games, chances are slim that the judgment be overturned. But I am writing in belief that our sporting scene would become one that is world-class in terms of standards and free of questionable factors. 

I gotta live my life like this!

Lord if it is Your will, then let it be so =)

Let me be free to run, to praise You.

In every season, my God is great!

And God is good all the time,

all the time God is good!

The Song of Love

And Lord, I desire to sing the song of Love

All my life, I just want to sing that song

Jesus my Lover, my Savior

I will never know how much You love me

I'm glad I went for songwriting (Shhh).

Today marks the first step of the revolution in my life,

Jesus I will live for You!

To my beloved ones

Dear brothers and sisters,

I am thankful to God for blessing with you in my life.

Of late, I realized I need to start pursuing Him like never before.

I am "ok" and will seek the Lord to be my pillar of strength.

I know He will never leave nor forsake me.

I thank you for your love and concerns and assure you,

that whatever decisions I make or will make, shall be one that is of God's will.

Spiritual Orphan

John 14: 18 says:

I will not leave you as orphans; I willl come to you.

That was Jesus' promise to His disciples that they will never be alone.

I look at the lives of the disciples before Jesus' death.

They knew Jesus personally.

They touched Him.

They talked to Him.

They heard Him.

Yet some doubted Him; some denied Him; some betrayed Him.

Man, as hard as he could try, is as imperfect as ever.

O Lord, indeed only You are worthy, good and faithful.

I pray that in this season, You make Your presence so obvious to me.

Be my comforter and strength, when there is no one else to turn to.

Lord, I thank You for the few people who were here for me when I needed to talk.

But You are the One who has never left nor forsaken me.

As I seek You and run after You, I pray that You'll show me the way.

I will stick to my commitment and not my emotions.

It does not mean that I will be taken for granted.

The place You lead me to, I will go.

The time has come, I shall waste no more of it.

I will go where You send me.

The Radical

Luke 9:23-24 says:

Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it. But whoever loses his life for me will save it."

I've not been going after the things God has wanted me to.

Maybe I've not been going after these with the right heart.

Whatever it is, I want to do what the verse says, deny myself and take up my cross daily and follow Jesus.

Even if it means to make a decision that displeases everyone else.

Dear God, be my source of help.

Selah

Time of rest and stillness to come.

See you soon...

I Surrender All

Marcus will go all the way out for Him, with Him and to Him.

Psalm 23

Today was really physically exhaustive.

Maybe I should reduce it from twice to once?

Maybe I should stop teaching?

Maybe I should stop coming together?

Maybes here. Maybes there.

I choose not to do what I want but what He wants.

God, may I receive Your strengthening and restoration.

To be enabled to do Your will.

Amen.

Psalm 23 again

I believe it was totally God's working.

We had Psalm 23 for our meditation during last night's prayer meeting.

I had the inspiration from a song "The Lord's my Shepherd".

Lo and Behold, at Combined service today the speaker was touching on Psalm 23!!!

And I heard from Matthew that GNK was touching on Psalm 23 as well!!

You may think it's all planned out for,

but I choose to see that God has divinely revealed Himself.

Today's takeaway from service was perception of the World as Christians.

How are you affected by the world today? If you went bankrupt, would you still praise God?

I think I have not gotten over it. 

It seemed to have become worse.

I start to imagine things ahead in the future.

But I shall not, and trust God to make a way for me.

=) Have a blessed week in Christ Jesus!

Psalm 23

A beautiful passage.

God is my provider.

I will need not lack anything.

Because the shepherd feeds His sheep daily.

Amen

Blank...

She refuses to talk.

Simply refuses to.

Maybe I'm imagining things.

But this is what I'm getting.

The un-deserving grace of God

As of tonight,

I will be praying...

praying for people...

in my heart that I feel that something ain't right...

those who have/had issues against me;

those who have been hurt by me;

those who I have discriminated against;

and those who I may have hurt before.

Because Jesus You love me,

I will love the same.

I pray for the above,

that they will not stay the same.

I'll fall, fall into Your arms of love

Dear God,

I pray that I will never have enough of You in my life.

Please open my eyes to see the vastness of Your creation;

Open my ears to listen to the ongoing sounds and wonders of Your praises,

and soften my heart to feel the hearts of the people You put in this world.

I hope You change me to be like never before;

how I was ignorant of Your mercy and compassion towards me;

how You loved me again and again despite of my stubbornness,

and gave Your only Son for me.

I was once lost but now am found,

I am saved but I never deserve this.

I am renewed but I feel the same,

Why O God?Why?

In my life I only hope for one thing,

that Your will be done and accomplished.

Your name be high and lifted up,

Yet I know the journey will not be easy.

I look to my left and to my right,

Who can I turn to in times of trouble?

I see Your people turn and walk away,

at a time when You said You are coming back again.

You came and You called,

that those who believe in You will be saved.

Yet in the saving grace of Yours,

it was as if the price that was paid was cheap.

There is no one like You,

None who is worthy to save our souls.

The lamb that was slain,

it has got to be Jesus.

So now I live my life,

in times of joy and moments of pain.

I will lift my voice to call out loud,

to my God who is forever faithful.

Thank You God,

Love You because You first loved me.

I pray,

that You teach me to love those who do not love me the same.

It should not matter to me,

because it never mattered to You.

I ask You give me the perseverance and determination,

to hold fast to what You have taught me.

I was lost,

but now am found.

In no one but You,

JESUS.