Moving On

2013 has been a great year of God's grace. There were certain things I wished I had done, and some not. But I'm glad and thankful for a year past. Come 2014, I'm sure God will remain gracious. May I keep my faith in this uphill task of staying close to You in this sin-saturated world.

Got it going

Finally, I'm starting on the Moore College Correspondence Course! I'm pretty excited about it, largely because there's so much in store for me and I've already put it on hold for a couple of years. As much as it is a theological course, what I am learning goes beyond understanding the bible as a scholarly text that I am trying very hard to take apart and build up head knowledge. I'm praying that this course will be helpful in allowing me to learn God's word, stand in awe of his greatness, and humbly spread the good news of Jesus Christ.

It marks the start of a journey and I'm thankful for this opportunity.

JESUS IS RAISED FROM THE DEAD AND MADE US ALIVE IN HIM!

Empty Room.

It's so odd it hurts and I can't hold back my tears. I walked out of my room and my sister's room is empty. It will be empty forever. Things at home would not be the same again now that she's married and moved out. A person so close to me, someone whom I can look for in the middle of the night to talk to, who would ever so willingly help me dress my wounds daily for a few weeks when I got into a road accident, rushed to the hospital at the moment I called home saying that I was knocked down by a car while cycling.

I am not sure how married life will be like. Regardless of where you are or who you are married to, you are my one elder sister, my only sibling. I wish you all the best and have a blissful marriage.

Wedding Day, Sister's

Tomorrow will be the big day for my sis. She's getting married, yes she is, but she isn't quite that happy about it. It seems like she's doing so for the sake of everyone else, meeting their expectations of a wedding, it's getting tiresome and there's no going back. That, however, kinda set me thinking. Should not marriage be something to be celebrated? Is it just about the two getting married, or the whole 'village'? Why are non-Christian marriages so different from Christian ones? What holds non-Christian couples together? The list goes on and on and on and on and needs lots of answers.

What I know is that when I come home after tomorrow, it would be unusually empty. My sister's room will be empty, and I don't think I'll have anyone to talk to at night when my parents are asleep. It'll be just me and my parents. Having someone so close to move out isn't something that one can get well prepared. It struck me this morning.

End of the third.

It's slightly premature to say that it's the end of the semester. I know that. But I thought it would be good for my to type away and take a short break from the heaps of revision and deadlines. Yes, it's not really the end yet.

This semester in review, I would say that it wasn't that bad. I have been incredibly busy with AIESEC and all the higher tier mods from both business school and usp, dealing with projects and meetings and deadlines. I am glad though, that I get my strength to go through all these somewhat joyfully from the bible. I am encouraged by the little reminders of grace everyday and each week when I meet up with friends from Regen, church and usp ministry. I am happy to be a servant of God in NUS.

Well, I'll leave it here for now. More to come when I have more time.

Crunchtime.

In the next couple of weeks to come, I have one presentation, two term papers, one project spreadsheet and report submission and one final quiz. Following that are two final exams to sit for. I have not really felt so much pressure and as much as I dislike it, burning the midnight oil to get work done might be the way out to meeting deadlines. 

What is my motivation? Why do I work so hard? 

It's perhaps good to re-think and realign. Even though grades and end result do not ultimately matter at the end of the day, the way we work reflects that we are taking the God-given role as students seriously. To study and as with all other Christians, spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

I find joy if I think of it this way, rather than to think that grades mean the world and it's only about me, myself and I. Ultimately, it's about God and I hope that fellow Christian students will live out their lives in a godly manner. 

Press on. 

Hard Choices

You see, all of us can get caught up with work almost all the time and set God aside for another time. Very recently, I have been pondering over the thought of what real godliness is. Does it just happen during bible studies or at church? The answer may be rhetoric, but it is the very resounding 'NO' that is hard to live out. We say no but we don't act likewise. 

I have been trying hard to live out a godly life and do as the bible has told me to. The instructions from Jesus, Paul, Peter, and each bit of what God is telling us to do in the bible–follow Christ and submit wholeheartedly. However, as fallible humans, we do just the opposite. We try to lead godly lives by leaning on our own strength and we say that we are wretched yet we still believe that we can do it. That doesn't make logical sense at all, does it? If it is logical and it works that way, Christ died for nothing. No matter what we are going through, stick with Christ. When faced with hostile remarks, do we fight back and retort? Given my personality, it's especially hard and I'm ever so tempted to give a blunt reply. I tend to refuse to take a step back and conduct myself in a Christ-like manner. That is in stark contrast from what we are told in the bible, isn't it? If it is hard, look to Christ and the bible. 

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:11-12)

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. (1 Peter 3:8-9)

Jesus isn't a safe haven that we run to when we need help. He is who we should be with all the time.

Is following Christ easy? Not at all. Before we could do that, we have to put our selfish desires aside. There are so many things out there that draw us away and essentially, the worldly values are not Christ-centered. When conformance equates to being included, we are caught in a dilemma. We want to live apart yet we want to be included. It's a hard choice to make. Choose Christ, choose life. 

A story to tell

Recently, I chanced upon a space of someone I personally know on the internet. Behind the face that always carries a smile and so compassionate towards others and an outward expression for the love of God, is a sad past that isn't so far away.

There are many ways that I could relate to that. The loss of someone close, so close. It's never easy.

God is good all the time, I know it and I will live it.

Thanks for the little encouragement. It goes a long long long way for me.

Hungry Ghost? A mere myth.

It's the time of the year again. Singapore, a modern city state, has transformed itself into yet an island with the decades-old tradition of 'public concerts on a budget', and flying ashes around the tightly spaced high-rise apartments in the heartlands. A walk around the neighbourhood and you'll notice food offerings placed along the sidewalks, red candles and smouldering joss sticks standing upright in a line at the border between the concrete pavement and the grass patch, drums filled with ashes, some with an inferno of burning joss papers. It's the hungry ghost festival, or otherwise known as zhong yuan jie. The traditional taoist believers say that it is during this period of time where the gates of hell open and the spirits are free to roam. However, that point differs from one believer to another.

It is perhaps "Asian" or rather "Chinese" to be performing these religious rites at this time of the year. The reasons are simple. They want to appease the spirits so that their families will be kept safe, and hope that these spirits can bring them a windfall by giving them the numbers for the next lottery jackpot. These are greatly practical things to hope for and pray for. Your family kept out of harm's way, and you get lots of money to satisfy all your material wants. How far can these "blessings" go? What are they worth? The answer, conversely, is simple. Your lifetime. That's all. And according to the taoist belief again, you go to hell when you pass on, and require another believer who is still alive to bring you out of it. If you love data and statistics, there are bound to be some who will not make it. Those whose families have no money to hire a priest to perform more rites for your spirit. The more you pay, the better your chances. Your entry to heaven is never guaranteed and is based on how much money you can pay the priest to chant for you.

Take a look around and you'll find groups of Singaporean Chinese not performing these rituals. They are either agnostic, they don't care, or they are of other religious faiths with vastly different set of beliefs. I am a Christian, and I do not practice these rituals even though my family does. It is by God's grace and mercy and love that I have been adopted as one of his own. My promise of salvation has been sealed by the Holy Spirit, God himself. Jesus died for me so I can be free from sin and have eternal life. And I have a relationship with God the Father, whom I can now intimately call Abba. I have a guarantee of being in heaven with God.

What have I done? I did not burn joss papers or lay out food offerings along the sidewalks. All I did was to repent from my sins and believe in God. If you are so concerned about money, is it worth it to be spending so much on something without guarantee? Why not turn to God, for this salvation he is giving is free for all, and all that he asks is for you to recognise your sins, repent from them, and believe in him, the one everlasting loving God.  

生老病死

当你读到，或听到“生老病死”这四个字的时候，心里是有怎样的感觉呢？最近我因肠胃感冒而病倒了两天。这两天让我有足够的时间去反省并思考这四个字的意义。因我曾患上了骨痛热症，以发起烧来就让我忐忑不安。心里知道若在患病，后果将会比第一次来得更加严重。

“死”只不过是人生的一部分。我们大家生来什么都没有，只有一身的罪。满满的，无可救药。信了耶稣还害怕死亡吗？口说不怕，心里倒是有点不安。老实说，“死”是件可怕的事情。我不知道我死的时候会是怎样的，也不晓得会有谁来吊丧。在葬礼上牧师会说什么呢？我活出了一个像基督的生活吗？即使我再不自在，在不安，在怕死，我在基督里得着了安慰。

因基督的死和复活我得着永生。虽然我们到了最终还是得面对死亡，但直这是人生中的一段旅程。我们都得经过生老病死的四个阶段。“死”一点也不简单。“永生”是用基督的血换来的。

生老病死。你的看法呢？

Power and Responsibility

Just a few days ago, I have added a new entry to my resume. For AIESEC in NUS, I am now the Finance Director in the Executive Board. Adding on to that are my captaincy status for the USP Badminton team and Evangelistic Events Secretary for Regenerate NUS. Collectively, they all mean that I have lots of power to do a lot of things. With my new role, I am as good as the CFO for AIESEC in NUS. The whole organisation can't really function without me, and I have the authority to make key decisions and steer the whole local committee.

But, with that comes huge responsibilities as well. First and foremost, I have to be responsible as a maturing Christian man. There are bound to be many decisions that I have to make, and I pray hard that I will make the godly decision all the time. Apart from that, I have to fulfil my role as a leader in various departments well. And the bible shall be my guide.

The new semester is going to be one full of new experiences. I'm excited.

Back home.

I'm finally back at home after a long stay away in Europe. It was a good time away I guess. The 2 months away was a trying period for my faith, for I was unable to find a Christian church, let alone a good one, that I could attend. I depended largely on online sermons to keep myself fed, along with the daily bible readings. As much as the online sermons are helpful, it is also important to remember what is a church about. It is about people. If you are alone and plugged in, listening to the same message preached halfway around the world, you are not a church. The fellowship with other Christians makes a church a church. That's the reason why I was rather upset about not being able to find a church in Poland.

I spent a good bulk of my time thinking and reflecting about certain things. I had been harsh with my words a while back and I fully understand that there is no way that I could take those hurtingly cold responses back anymore. All I knew then was that I had to put an end to what we were going through, and it is rather pointless to let it drag on. Looking back, was it worth it? Perhaps. I am happier now. I'm free and I know it.

That aside, it was good to be back in church and swing right back into Sunday school with the little kids. Yes, I'm back with little kids after spending 6 weeks with Polish kids. I'm glad to be back.

Away from home

It has been just more than a week since I left home for Europe. It's a good time to be away from Singapore I guess. I needed time to be away by myself and Poland has been great so far. I've had lots of time to think about things, to meet new friends, while still being me and holding on to what I believe in.  I realise no matter where I am, some parts of me do not change. I go straight to the point and what I want to say is written all over my face. Still as tactless as before too. This is me, I'm comfortably being myself here.

On another note, I have never felt so crippled before. Spiritually crippled and alone. I can't find a church here in Poland, and although I'm mixing with awesome people, they are not Christians. I will rely on bible reading and the sermons from church.

I'll update with a bit more details soon. Really drained and tired after a day out at Auschwitz.

Succumbing to the sin of destroying the holy temple of God

Death is not trivial by any means. Through the death of Christ, we are saved. It's a great loss to my community here that a scholar has taken his own life. He's a Christian. While we mourn with the family who has lost their precious child, pray that they will stand strong. This incident has opened up a chest of questions. What the bible says about suicide? Is it godly to take your life just because you can't cope with stress? What has Christ done? Where does your hope lay? Is God so weak that he can't take away our problems? How about salvation for the one who took his life?

The following sermon by John Piper at a funeral meditation has answered most, if not all, of those questions.

The following message was preached by John Piper in 1988 at a memorial service for a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church. Identifying information has been removed.

We need firm biblical ground under our feet at a time like this. And so I want to try to take the Bible, God’s Word, and unfold five truths that I hope will give you a firm place to stand in the coming days.

1. Saints sometimes feel so bad that they want to die.
2. It is sin to fulfill that desire by taking your own life.
3. The only way sin can be forgiven is in our relationship to Jesus Christ by faith.
4. Saving faith can be so weak that the heart gives way to grievous sin.
5. Therefore let this death not be in vain: let it make us utterly committed to overcome the weakness of faith that cost him his life.

1. Saints Sometimes Feel So Bad That They Want to Die

Moses was under tremendous pressure from the people to take them back to Egypt. They were dissatisfied with his leadership. And God himself had sent fire against the people. Moses says, “I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me. If you will treat me like this, kill me at once, if I find favor in your sight, that I may not see my wretchedness” (Numbers 11:14–15).

Elijah had just endured the incredible strain of single-handedly opposing 400 priests of the idol Baal and the people of Israel and the king. God vindicated his faith, and he ran exuberantly for miles in front of the king’s chariot. Then he heard that the king’s wife, Jezebel, vowed to kill him. In his fear and exhaustion he went into the wilderness, sat down under a broom tree, and said, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am no better than my fathers” (1 Kings 19:4).

The prophet Jonah displayed one of the most selfish attitudes of all the prophets in being irritated that God had mercy on the pagan city of Nineveh. And God rebuked him with a desert wind. “When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, ‘It is better for me to die than to live’” (Jonah 4:8).

Listen to the account of a young Christian graduate student.

Although I have always been reasonably healthy, insomnia has plagued me from adolescence until now. Only those who are unable to sleep at night can appreciate the distressing toll this ailment takes on one’s life: the omnipresent sense of fatigue, the susceptibility to irritation, and the grossness of an unrefreshed mind. All through the university I struggled against a never ending torpor, mental and animal. Each night the disquiets of mind prevailed over weariness. And the more the tensions of graduate work mounted, the more I fought off the effects of insufficient sleep. One Friday afternoon, as I prepared for the spring language examinations, I emotionally exploded. Having lost sleep with such regularity, I lacked courage to face the future. My mind was like a mass of live rubber: continually expanding, it threatened to divide down the center. This would leave me powerless to cope with responsibilities in the university . . . Everything I conceived became a burden; every anticipated obligation threatened to impale me. Even so ordinary a responsibility as conversing with others overwhelmed me with consternation. Nor dare I conceal that fact that even suicide took on a certain attractiveness.

This graduate student went on to become a great professor of theology. He wrote books that are among the most penetrating and moving I have ever read. But in the end he was found dead of an overdose of sleeping pills. The coroner wrote, "I find death undetermined whether Accidental or Suicidal." But those closest to him conceded that there was an addiction to the sleeping pills and that this was connected to his mental condition and "that dependency finally proved his undoing." If this beloved professor intentionally took too many pills, it would not prove he was unregenerate.

Saints sometimes feel so bad that they want to die.

2. It Is Sin to Fulfill That Desire by Taking Your Own Life

Committing suicide is sin. For three reasons:

1. First, it is disobedience to the command of God, “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13). And disobedience to God’s commands is sin.
2. Second, it is presumption upon God’s sovereign prerogatives to give and take life.God alone can create a human person, and therefore personhood belongs to God. We have no right to dispose of ourselves or others as we please. The Lord has sole rights over what he has made. Murder and suicide intrude on the sacred ground where God alone is the giver and taker.
3. Third, it is failure to trust in God for the help needed to survive and cope. And the Bible says that whatever is not from faith is sin (Romans 14:23).

Therefore, we are on firm biblical ground when we say: it is sin take your own life.

3. The Only Way Sin Can Be Forgiven Is in Our Relationship to Jesus Christ by Faith

Every one of us is a sinner. It doesn’t matter how many “good” things we do or have done. We have dishonored God by the meagerness of love to God and the shallowness of our trust in God and the inconsistency of our obedience to God. If we don’t find a way for our sins to be forgiven, we will be cut off from God forever, because God is holy and cannot look with favor on sin.

Nor can he sweep sin under the rug as though the dishonoring of his holy name by our sin were of no consequence. It is of infinite consequence. And that’s why God sent his Son Jesus Christ into the world to die for sinners.

The prophet Isaiah foresaw this great sending of the suffering Messiah.

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:4–6)

Jesus Christ came into the world and fulfilled this great Jewish prophecy by dying on the cross and becoming a curse for those who trust in him. “You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

His apostle Peter said, “To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10:43). So the issue for every one of us is: do we have a relationship of faith with Jesus Christ so that our sins are forgiven? It is the most precious gift in the world. And there is no other way for a sinner to get to God than through the shed blood of God’s Messiah, Jesus Christ—by trusting in his name.

No amount of good works can earn God’s salvation. And no amount of bad works disqualifies a person from God’s converting grace. A thief hung on a cross next to Jesus as he was dying. His life was one total waste of sin and unbelief. And in that last moment his eyes were opened and he threw himself on the mercy of the King of the universe and said, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And Jesus, with all the sovereignty of one who would not be defeated by death, said, “Today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:42–43).

In the eleventh hour a lifetime of sin and unbelief can be forgiven by faith in Jesus Christ.

4. Saving Faith Can Be So Weak That the Heart Gives Way to Grievous Sin

Or to put it another way, those who are truly forgiven for their sins and accepted by God forever can give way temporarily to temptation and fall into sin.

The biblical evidence for this is:

• The seventh chapter of Romans describes how Christians struggle with the remaining corruption in our lives: Romans 7:15: “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.”
• Philippians 3:12: “Not that I . . . am already perfect; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.”
• 1 John 1:8: “If we say we have no sin, we deceive we ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
• In Matthew 6:12 Jesus says we should not only pray for daily bread but for daily forgiveness too: “Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.”

Saving faith can be so weak at times that the heart gives way to grievous sin.

But this does not mean that the saving relationship with Christ goes in and out of existence with each of our sins. When a believer yields to temptation, his faith in Christ is weak and the enticements of sin and the power of Satan get the upper hand. But there is a great difference between Satan getting a temporary upper hand and Satan being the Lord of life. There is a great difference between yielding with resistance to an evil that I hate to do, and doing that evil as part of the usual pattern of my life.

The evidence of the Master’s hand is the warp and woof of the fabric, not the snags in our thread.

In the years of your friend’s unbelief he was like a captive in a concentration camp far behind the lines of Satan’s territory. Like all of us at one time or another, he had given himself over to the side of the enemy by refusing to trust in Christ. The result was a kind of numbness toward spiritual things.

Then one day, it appears that Jesus set himself to penetrate the lines of Satan’s territory, break through the fences of the concentration camp, and shock him out of his stupor of unbelief.

But as they were leaving the concentration camp, the sirens went off, the ensuing combat was fierce. The sword was knocked out of his hand and the shield slipped on his arm. And the deceptive dart of temptation sank so deep into his heart that he fell in the combat.

And where was Jesus? We believe he caught him when he fell and carried him home.

And if we say to Jesus, “You should have protected him while he was escaping,” I think he would say, “My ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. You can no more grasp my wartime strategies than a child can read the graphs of the Chief of Staff. And remember, if I hadn’t broken through the prison of his unbelief, you would have never seen him again.”

5. Therefore Let This Death Not Be in Vain: Let It Make Us Utterly Committed to Overcome the Enemy That Brought Him to the Grave

• Give his death worth and meaning by letting it make you hate sin and Satan and unbelief.
• Let it make you blood-earnest about spiritual things.
• Let it strip you of unbelief.
• Let it be his last loud cry against the dangers of the powers of darkness.

What could honor him more than to let his death be a covenant between you and him, sealed with his own blood,

• that you, from this day forth, will fight with all your might the enemy that brought him to his grave;
• that you will wear the whole armor of God; and
• that you will take the sword of the Spirit, the Bible, and practice with that sword so regularly, so diligently, so earnestly that you become valiant for the Savior who did not leave him blind, broke the prison walls of his unbelief . . . and caught him when he fell.

©2013 Desiring God Foundation. Used by Permission.

Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. For web posting, a link to this document on our website is preferred. Any exceptions to the above must be approved by Desiring God.

Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: By John Piper. ©2013 Desiring God Foundation. Website: desiringGod.org 

Oh Jonah!

The bible is an amazing book. I'm being very careful to say that it's simply amazing, because it isn't simple at all. Jonah is a great example. Plenty of irony, morbid humour, and a very deep lesson that we can learn.

The first time I read Jonah, I thought it was simply about this man called Jonah who ran away from God after being instructed by God to go to Nineveh. Then he was swallowed by this massive fish, and he prayed and the fish spat him out. It seems like he has repented through his prayer to God. But, after the Nineveh-ians were shown mercy by God, he became very angry at God. And his anger did not subside! In my mind, not knowing the significance of this prophetic book, I brushed it aside thinking that I understood the whole of this 'simple' passage that talks about God's mercy.

Recently, I turned back to Jonah, and asked Paul to read Jonah with me because we are done with Colossians. It was such an amazement when I realise that the minor prophetic books are just shorter in length and are by no means less important. Every book in the bible is there for a good reason. Nineveh was involved in a war later on, and even at a later time judged and destroyed.

As much as I would like to mock at Jonah for being such a fool, I have to admit and recognise that I'm as big a fool. There have been times when I think I deserve salvation because of what I have done, looked on other religions with contempt and don't tell people who worship idols about Jesus because they don't deserve it, thought that I know who God is when there is no way I could fully comprehend, and many other instances.

The take home message after studying Jonah is this:
Weijie, God is gracious. You have received salvation not because of what you have done, but because Christ died on the cross and you are raised with Him. Jonah is a classic example of ways in which Christians can stumble in their faith. Pray not like Jonah, recognise your sins like David in Psalm 51, turn to God and repent. Bear in mind, too, that God is in complete control.

The bible has revealed to me a much deeper lesson than a mere superficial story about a man named Jonah, as I have once perceived. To those who read this, I hope it can be an encouragement for you to read the bible and discover God's greatness.

What should you call yourself?

A church refers to a group of people of believe in Jesus Christ coming together to listen to God's word.

It is important to hear about Jesus being preached every Saturday or Sunday during the church service, because the church is ultimately about Jesus. You do not hear about Jesus only on Good Friday and Christmas (some churches do not even mention Jesus on these 'special' occasions–as they would call it). Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, focus on the Word of God, keep your mind on Jesus Christ. Let your ears not hear sermons in churches that are not about Christ, or indulge in rituals that draw you away from him who rescued you. It is never by our own strength that we are redeemed, we are called Christians because of Jesus Christ, who through his death saved us from death.

Flee from false teaching, run to biblical truth.

When the going gets tough

Everybody's scurrying around, looking flustered as they pull their hair to think of ideas, rushing through the paces of life to get things done. What a sight to behold at the end of the semester.

I'm in pretty much the same situation as everyone else. I have been finding it hard to rest like I did last semester. I know that I have to rest, but can I afford to? Papers to submit, responses to share, things to keep in check. It is easy to lose sight of God and the cross during such busy times. It becomes ever so convenient to sideline Jesus.

Good Friday–some say that it is more than just a holiday. But we do not need a special day to remind ourselves what Christ has done. It should always be fresh in our mind the scene of our Saviour on the cross. He did not die for us so that we may sideline him. Christ should rule in our hearts, but I know that it is hard to submit. It is my plea to God that I can be a humble servant of the Lord Jesus Christ.

As a student, working adult, stay-home mum, retiree, whatever your status, it is ever so important to put Christ first in our lives. One Lord, one Saviour, one resurrection. Only Jesus, nothing more, or less.

Executive Committee, Executive Board, or Both?

It's hard to make decisions when the choice isn't clear. Or in my case, when there's a "Both" option.

When I was rejected by my CCA for the Executive Board position, I was in some ways, glad. But having met the incoming president a couple of days back to explain to me why I wasn't selected, it was not because of my capabilities that I was rejected. He wanted me on the team, but was unsure if I could commit. After clarifying his doubts, which were largely true, he wanted me to reapply in the second round. My options are open again. And I have 6 more hours to make up my mind.

Yesterday, I was told and asked to be part of the Executive Committee for Regenerate, to plan for and oversee evangelistic events. It's something I'm more familiar with, and I know the people I'm going to work with much better. I am clear of the goals of Regen, and I am sure of their biblical doctrine. I will be serving fellow Christians.

It seems like the workload for both are about the same, with regen being slightly lighter–given that the events run once a month. "Both" seems like a viable option.

But, back to the heart. My heart. What is my motivation? What do I really want? Will it be godly if I promise that I can, when in fact I'm not sure? Would it be better to be sure and know what is godly and do it?

It can be hard to choose at times. I have to know where my heart lies, and do accordingly. I won't be right with God even if I am a leader in 2 student groups, but only through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I've made up my mind.

being truthful

Not too long ago, in fact just last week, I rushed through my application to be in the Executive Board in my CCA, to be the vice-president and head a team. I worked through the lengthy essays to answer some questions, a half-day assessment centre and an hour of interview. I received a call today to inform me that I wasn't selected. What a relief.

I signed up to be in the EB without knowing whether I could commit, and actually it was only yesterday that I realise I would not be able to. I do not want to be pushed to extreme of what I can handle and end up not having any space to breathe. There's so much that I want to do, and I have to know what is prudent.

I also started to think about why I did not get selected. Was it because of something I did during the assessment centre, or something I said during the interview? Not that I could think of any. What I am sure, and I'm very certain about this, is that I was just being myself during the 2 rounds of selection process. I did not hide the real me and put on a facade, or say things out of convenience just because it would be the easier way out. I know that I made the choice to remain truthful about everything, and whatever the outcome, it does not matter.

At least now I know that I'm not who they are looking for to fill the position, and I remained faithful to what I believe in.

making decisions like a godly student

The typical local (Singapore) university offers its students an array of activities, from musical groups to sports groups to clusters of students being intellectually challenged every other moment while on campus. There are opportunities to lead a team, start a project, come up with new initiatives. Even as a Christian on campus, one will definitely get exposed and be encouraged to be involved with one, or more, campus Christian ministries. The list goes on and on and on. The activities are definitely attractive, because each of those posters pasted around uni are targeted at a specific group of students with a particular interest in the related field, and the appeal is real, so is the distraction.  

One can't possibly join all activities that appeal to his palate. In this half of the semester alone, if without restrictions of time, I would have been involved in more than ten co-curricular activities, or more commonly known as CCA. I have to be thankful that there's a definite limiting factor that's holding me back from wanting to push myself over the threshold of stress and work-life management. Learning to plan my time around God has definitely been helpful in sorting out what I have to be responsible for and which activities I should be choosing in such a way that I won't displace God from his rightful place. The danger still remains when we think that we can rely on our own strength and think that we can do more all the time. 

I met with some helpful speed bump recently. A good wake up call as some may call it. Missing an important test a week back gave me a stern reminder that I'm starting to mess things up, and it's screaming at me to get back on track. My bible readings have gone off track, I couldn't focus on my work and I'm getting very involved in my CCA. As a student, I should be performing my roles and responsibilities. They include attending lectures, going for the assessments, integrity and honesty, doing my tutorials, etc. The motivation, however, is likely to be different for a Christian who is a student too. Mine is so that I could honor God, by fulfilling my responsibilities in the role that he has given me. 

Sometimes, it is helpful to have a structure to life. Structures can help us focus better at times. Of course, the focus and motivation of having such structures should be set right in the first place. I have recently began to think of how I can plan my time such that I can spend more time reading the bible and meeting people, while at the same time meeting the deadlines and contributing to team projects. 

I did not plan much for this semester and was carried away by too many distractions. In more than one way I am thankful for the recess week. I have time to re-focus myself on God's word, and be ready for the fight ahead. 

Strive on in God's strength as His prayer warrior. 

the desire to serve

We have 24 hours each day. Conventionally, a third of a day's time would be spent on the bed, getting sufficient rest that we need, as determined by sleep scientists as the optimal amount of rest per day. We spend some more time waiting dragging ourselves out of bed, getting from place to place, going about our daily routines. How much time is left to serve?

The issue here is not so much of how much time we have, because that is something that we cannot change. I am not saying that we should deprive ourselves of sleep by going to bed late at night and wake up in the wee hours of the morning to read the bible and to pray for other people, or even to think about them. Planning the precious 16 odd hours well is important. 

I am not going to give advice on how much time exactly you should be spending to read the bible, or the amount of time to be allocated to talking to people each week. I have no means to control that, I am not God. The motivation should not be that of feeling better because I have spent more time talking to someone about Jesus this week. The focus should be on Jesus Christ. He gave us life. His death defeated sin for good, and those who are in Him will overcome sin too. It is from the recognition of Christ that stirs up a desire for us to serve Him wholeheartedly. No one can force you. Service would be meaningless if there's no commitment, or conviction. 

As a Christian, I am still learning the meaning of true service. I do not think that I will be able to reach this point that I could say that I understand fully the meaning of service. But it's the burning passion to serve that drives me forward to serve even more, in the glory of Jesus Christ, the Lord over my life. I know how much his love means to me, I am humbled by the grace that I have been shown. It is by his grace that I am who I am today. Even if I am going to be in rags, without a qualification, have nothing to my name, I know that I have Christ. It hasn't been the easiest of uni life the past few weeks, but it is nothing compared to the pain that Christ has gone through for my sake. 

In Christ I am found.  

overworked

My body feels tired, my mind feels tired, and I severely lack quality sleep and rest. After 10 days of non-stop work, thinking, brainstorming, travelling out of residence for events, meeting people, attending conferences, preparing for talks, and meeting more people for projects, I have to say that I'm tired and I need some rest.

I finally managed to find some time to catch a breather today, just to keep things in check and refocus myself. I am constantly reminded of Paul's message to the Colossians. The immensity and greatness of God never bores me. It tells me how small I am, and that I should be thankful for the gospel. Yet, a lot of times, I feel like a part-time Christian. The truth, however, is that there's no such thing. It's binary. Yes, or no, not both.

Taking my mind off work to read the bible has helped me to find rest and comfort. My focus is on Christ. I have put off the old, and already put on the new, and I shall live in a manner that is Christ-like to reflect that. Results, resumes, exposures, and 'good team dynamics' can only bring me that far in life. Jesus brings life.

'Focus on Christ, focus on Him alone.'

twenty-two

I turn 22 today. I'm now a year older.

In the past year, God has been incredibly gracious to me, as He has always been. As one grows older, more is expected of him or her, in terms of maturity in thinking and in actions. Each year, I aim to become more mature spiritually, increase in my knowledge of God and the bible, and to apply what I've learnt in appropriate ways. I have grown, but there's no way to measure by how much I have. It's a continuous process of learning and maturing, there is no end to it, maybe in the day of the new creation. I have fallen short in more ways that I thought I would. I have sinned again and again despite knowing the consequences. I am thankful. God has given forgiveness to us freely through Jesus Christ, despite our sinfulness. I do not deserve it at all. Such a great gift, such a wonderful piece of good news to tell the whole world about.

I have one birthday wish, on top of my desire to know Jesus better, which is for the people who know me to know Jesus as well. So, do you know Jesus?  

Back into First Gear

The slender book shelf gets filled with textbooks and some of the other necessary appliances are back in place. It hasn't been the easiest 3 days in uni, having to commute daily to and from home. The wounds are healing quickly, though some still refuse to stop oozing. 

It's a new semester and there have been plenty of changes to scheduling. But some things never change.   Here's a good reminder from the bible about who Jesus is. 

Colossians 1:15-23

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Extending forgiveness

It has become slightly inconvenient for me to walk around the house due to the injuries. I have become a victim of a road accident involving cyclists. Yes, my life has been affected and things that I have been able to do just require slightly more effort. It's painful. As I reflect on what I have been reading about forgiveness, I have no grounds to not forgive the driver who caused all these wounds and my broken bike. It is hard to forgive looking at the state that I am in, but it is even harder to forgive who I actually am. 

I have received forgiveness through the blood of Jesus despite being a wretched sinner. The man who knocked me down is a sinner too, and I am no better than him. We are both in need of forgiveness of our sins. As God has forgiven me for such a great crime I have committed against Him, forgiving the man now seems trivial. I have forgiven him.

Having learnt to forgive recently, I checked my mental account of the sins that were committed against me for various reasons. There were not many and I actually had some difficulty trying to find them. Thank God for allowing me to understand forgiveness, even though I believe there is more to it than what I already know. 

Forgiveness: A Good Reminder

They are big words heavy on meaning. Forgiveness and mercy are marks of love. Anyone can say 'I forgive you for what you have done wrong against me'. But, what is the basis of that forgiveness and what sets a Christian apart from the non-Christians when it comes to forgiving another person?

I see myself as a person who has spurned God's wrath and fury because of my utter sinfulness. I deserved only death. Yet, God, being full of mercy and overflowing with love, sent His Son Jesus to die for my sins, so I can be reconciled to Him in the coming Kingdom. This is forgiveness at its best. God forgave me of my sins in the death of His own Son. Knowing my status and the immense mercy I have received, there is no reason that I do not forgive another person who has sinned against me. I know that I forgive because I'm forgiven. 

An Issue

Doctors have a huge responsibility. They need to have the courage to tell a patient the diagnosis, no matter how grave an illness it is. Lately, I have been feeling some form of discomfort not known to me before. More than that, it's in the area of the chest where the heart is. I run and cycle frequently, play badminton up to twice a week, eat plenty of greens and drink plenty of water. I would say that I am healthier than most Singaporeans I know.

'This is unusual for your age', the doctor says. 'At worse, IHD. Though chances are very slim given your profile. Let's wait for about a week and come back again. In the meantime, stop all medications and supplements and drink more water'.

Do I fear the possible diagnosis? How could I say no. I know how serious IHD is in terms of causing fatalities. It is going to be a hard week for me and I have to pay extra attention to any tightness in the chest and dizziness. What if things don't turn out well all of a sudden? Or if I can't tell the people I love about who Jesus is in time?

It's incredibly painful. If it is in the big plan of God that I give up my physical body right now, I will gladly and humbly follow.

Glory to God alone.

Worshipping Figurines

Singapore is a place full of diversity. We have 4 major ethnic groups and quite a number of religions, mostly dominated by the 'traditional' beliefs. They would include Taoism, Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism. I call them traditional because they usually run in the family are passed down the generations, largely in terms of what is practised. I grow up in a traditional Chinese family, which more often than not, as with other of such families, are confused between Taoism and Buddhism and lines tend to blur between the 2. Most who believe do not even exactly know what they are believing in. But that is not the main point of this entry.

One very significant characteristic of traditional Chinese religions is the worship of figurines. You would be able to fully understand what I mean when you observe the places of worship, namely the various Chinese temples. Stepping inside, one would immediately be drawn to the huge statues that resemble humans, and are often dressed up in gold. Believers offer up food of all kinds, fruits, incense, joss paper, money, you name it. Lots of money is spent in hope to please and appease these gods. Offerings usually follow after asking the gods for certain favours too, with the most common being wealth. There's no end to what believers would do so that they can earn their way to nirvana, as they would call it. In a way, they are working to get right with their gods, who come in the form of figurines they made with their own hands. It is saddening to see how they try in vain, and not understanding that they are actually not getting anywhere. There is no way that we can earn our salvation.

Let us now look at a different belief, one that is not centered on us but on a God who sent His Son to die for all of us. There is a marked difference between the traditional Chinese religions and Christianity in terms of idol worship. In Christianity, salvation is a gift from God through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. He has to die so that we can be made right with God. We are sinful by nature and are in need of a saviour. God, being full of love, pure and holy, wanted to reconcile us defiled sinners to himself. No matter what we do, there is no way that we can erase our sins and work our way to God. That is how wretched and dirty and undesirable we are, so much that we cannot even rid ourselves of sin no matter how much we offer up to God, or how well we keep the festivities and vegetarian diets. No way at all! Despite our utter undeserving status, God sent his very own son to redeem us from the clutches of death and be in his kingdom. All that is required of us is only to believe.

As believers of Jesus Christ, we seek to live out a life worthy of the death of our Saviour. We know that no matter how much we try, there is no way that we can be right with God except through Jesus. We live in response to this gift we have received, knowing clearly that we are promised eternal life in Christ alone.

There is a choice for all of us. You can choose to continue worshipping figurines in vain, in hope that some miracle would happen one day such that you will get very wealthy. You can continue to burn offerings in hope that you will get a place in heaven and get right with your gods. Or, you can choose Jesus, through whom you will receive eternal life. It will be given to you free of charge, you don't have to burn stacks of paper so that you will be accepted into God's perfect promised Kingdom. 2 ways to live, it's up to you.

2013

As people from all over the world usher in the new year, how many actually begin the year with the end in mind? This end that I am speaking of isn't the end of 2013, but the coming of the promised Kingdom of God.

It is crucial to take the Kingdom of God seriously. Let us first look at who is God. In the very first book of the bible, Genesis, this is the God who has created the world.  By saying created the world, I do mean everything that we see around us, including you and me. God has a perfect plan for all of humanity. However, because of the weakness of Man, we fell to sin. Sin is rebellion against God. Adam defied God's orders to him. This sin defiled the human race and we were thrown out of God's perfect kingdom in the Garden of Eden. God is ultimately a God who cares about us. He created us in His image and want to reconcile us back to Him. Because of our utter sinfulness, there was no way that we could be right with God again. The Kingdom of God promised to Abraham seems like too far a dream for the people in the Old Testament of the bible. God did not lose control, He has always been in control. In the New Testament, we read about Jesus, God's son. Jesus Christ, in very nature God, came from heaven to Earth to redeem us from slavery to sin. For the price of sin is death, Jesus, being an obedient Son, went to the cross (a humiliating way to die in ancient Rome) to die, so that we can be reconciled to God again. Sin was defeated at the cross of Christ. Jesus was then resurrected and brought to life again, and ascended to the right hand of God. In the book of Revelation, the last book of the bible, John speaks of the new heaven and the new earth, where God's perfect world would be restored. Christ will be coming again. The Kingdom of God is at hand.

As we begin a new year, take time to stop and consider Christ. It is only through the death of Christ that we can be made right with the God who has created us. This is unconditional love and immense grace, for we are sinful and alienated from this almighty God.

Have a blessed 2013. Remember grace.