It's all about choices

Choices!

Many times in life, we are faced to make decisions, to choose our options. Occasionally though, our choices can reveal who we are, our values and integrity.

During our cell fellowship, one member was talking about the dilemma of running a mini-mart and sustaining his business. The rent of the shop is high. There are many restrictions. Cost saving is always a balance to provide good services and yet to be profitable. Sometime, there is also temptation to run foul against the Law by selling cigarette to underage children, thinking that the sellers can get away. Law enforcers do use these children as bait to catch such transgressors.

That is when I blurted out: “Honesty is the best policy!”

“Not so,” another member challenged.

He then shared that quite sometime ago. He posted an item to sell on eBay. It took him more than a year before someone showed an interest in his item. But the buyer wanted him to declare the item that he intended to sell as a “gift” so as to evade tax in his country. To secure the business, he complied. He believed that most businesses are done in this way, evading the Law whenever necessary.

What would you do, in such a similar situation?

This reminds me of Genesis Chapter 12 when Abraham went to Egypt. To avoid being killed because of his beautiful wife, he lied that she is his sister. Sure, it spared his life, but his integrity is tarnished.

That is when I heard a inner voice within me whispered: “Walk by faith, not by sight”.

Here is a brother who walks by sight. He sees an opportunity and makes decision on what he sees. He knows that the Law will catch up on him. Also, he will save the time to wait for a honest customer. On the other hand, to walk by faith, he will have to stand in integrity and not lie, believing in faith that God will bless his choice and sent a better customer. Even if God choose not to, he learns to wait on the LORD, whatever the outcome may be. That is walking by faith. He then enters into Genesis Chapter 22, like Abraham; choosing to obey God’s command to live in obedience.

Does it pay to live uprightly, or do we just follow the world?

The choice is yours.

But know that there is accountability at the end of life’s journey.

Agape

Encouraging Growth Mentality

Share A Thought: Always take care of your subordinates.

One of my company mechanical draughtsmen has tendered his resignation. Although he is not reporting to me but to another manager, he did all my mechanical drawings for those jobs that I work on. Here is a nice chap with a poly diploma who has been with the company for more than three years, if I am not wrong. Now, I have start all over again, … (sigh!)

I have been prompting my top boss to take care of our engineers’ career path. He decides promotion and pay increment, I have no control over all this. But he doesn’t seem to think the same as me. For him, if someone resigns, “just go and hire another”. But the pain of training a new engineer is not that simple. It takes at least 3 to 6 months if the engineers are fast learners to really get some decent job done. Most don’t stay long enough, 3 years at most.

It is the same as in the Bethany PCES. Do our worshippers see a so call spiritual growth in the church?

Would they see that:
In 2 years time, to become a BS leader or follow-up leader?
Another 2 years then as a committee member;
There after another 3 years to be a deacon,
Etc (short term mission; evangelism; Sunday School teacher) …?

Otherwise, we are all stuck doing the jobs … as a BSG leader, worship leader, committee member … (for life?)

What is the church doing to inculcate the growth mentality?
(comment?)

6So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. (Col 2:6,7)

Finishing the Christian Journey

I feel sad after completed reading the Book of 1 Samuel last Saturday morning. (Started from Book of Joshua since mid January)

Very sad …

King Saul, the Lord’s anointed ended his life by committing suicide.
Why did God's anointed and first chosen king ended this way?
What went wrong?
Why did God choose him in the first place? Isn’t there any better man to be king?


Apparently, he was the best person available at that time. (Read 1Sam 9-11) OK, the best person should be Samuel, but he already held two more important offices – Prophet and Priest. The next important office is King.

David, son of Jesse was not born yet. 1Sam 13:1 (NIV) recorded that Saul was 30 years old when he became king and ruled Israel for 42 years. David became king at the age of 30 (2Sam 5:4). This meant that when David was born, Saul had already ruled Israel for 12 years.

After 12 years or more, perhaps impatience (1Sam 13), greed and integrity (1Sam 15) have gotten into him after so long as king.

David, son of Jesse was still a boy when he was anointed (1Sam 16). How old was David when he was anointed? We can make a guess. We know that Jesse had 8 sons, David being the youngest. The first three eldest sons served in Saul’s army (1Sam 17:12,13). In Israel, only men above 20 years old could be in the army (Numbers 1:20) so assuming each of Jesse’s son was one year difference in age, David was no more than 15 years old when he was anointed by Samuel to be the next king.

Wow! Only 15 years old and already chosen to be king!

But have to wait for 15 years before really become king, leh.

So, instead of gracefully stepping down as king, Saul became jealous and plotted to kill David many times. Power struggle!! Yet, David did not once take his hand on the Lord’s anointed. In the end, Saul killed himself.

I may not be the Lord’s anointed.
But still, beware of obstacles in my Christian journey.
Be very aware!!

It’s not how we start the Christian journey.
It’s how we end.
(Like running a marathon, only those who cross the line are counted)

Still very sad … (will I see Saul in heaven?)

Who is wise among us?

Know of any wise guy?

Yah!

Who?

LKY (?) … Ah, ok, sure got this one right, must be King Solomon, lah!


According to Dr Gordan Smith, professor at Regent College, Vancouver, the first of the four marks of a mature Christian is wisdom. I was at his lecture last Friday (6 Feb) and the topic was Spiritual maturity.

Honestly, I have never thought of that. Normally when we talk about spiritual maturity, we talk about bearing spiritual fruit – love, joy, peace, … (Gal 5:22,23). No, that is not even one of the marks of a spiritual Christian. “Wisdom grows with age. A young person can never be considered wise. It is a tragedy for a person to grow old and not wise”. Although he didn’t really define wisdom in his lecture, one dictionary defines wisdom as:

having the power of discerning and judging properly as to what is true or right; possessing discernment, judgment, or discretion

To be able to make right judgment come from having right knowledge. So I quote what Professor Gordon said:

“No wisdom without knowledge
No knowledge without studies”










Wisdom begins with knowing God.

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Prov 9:10 NIV)

For those without God, their wisdom at best is still earthly wisdom, not godly wisdom. What then is the different? Godly wisdom is not just about words and thoughts. It includes action and outcome that affect everybody.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. (James 3:17)

I have been in the Bethany PC English Committee long enough to hear of many decisions being made. Different people approach differently, some more legalistic, some more logically, some more compassionate, some prefer a win-win approach (whatever that is). In BPCES, we also hear of the many decisions the church session made. Ultimately, the test of such decisions is by James 3:17. Sad to say, I feel that most of the time the wisdom of the church session when evaluate under the microscope of James 3:17 does not turn out well. This is just my opinion, no offend to anybody. (Not trying to be judgmental here, just a Share-A-Thought)

Know of any wise guys in Bethany PC?

Eh, our pastors can or not?

How about the church elders, ah?

Proverb 4:
5 Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or swerve from them.

6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.

7 Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

8 Esteem her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.

9 She will set a garland of grace on your head
and present you with a crown of splendor


Sophia, (in Greek mean wisdom)
Mark Lim