Encourage an environment for Growth

Sharing of information and knowledge is vital for growth.

This is what happens in my workplace.

Every Wednesday, 5:30pm, an engineer will do a half-hour presentation on any topics of his interest or expertise to the company. They will be assessed for their presentation. An award will be given to the best presenter. I am one of the judges. Last Wednesday (29 July), a mechanical engineer gave a talk on SCREW. Like he said, we need to know about screws and how they screw up our lives.


In a working environment, we can enforce compulsory learning and training. But can we do that in a church?

In my younger days as a Christian with the Polytechnic Navigators, studying and reading the Bible was normal. Not memorizing Bible verses was abnormal. Everyone who was with the Navigators for one year would have memorised a minimum of 60 verses. It is common to ask one another, “How’s your Quiet Time?” This is what we term a discipleship environment.
We can never survive spiritually alone; there is a tendency to follow the crowd. It is very easy to memorise Bible verses when everybody is doing it. Even in every Bible camp, we had Bible quiz and memory verses quiz. So that created excitement and encouragement.

BPCES does not have a tradition of Bible reading and memorizing Bible verses. Very seldom do we hear or read about each others devotion (except my blog, maybe). So I would say there is no discipleship environment in BPCES. As such, you don’t expect worshippers to be excited about bringing friends to evangelistic events.

How the church grows and move will depend on the leaders and committee members to set an example. They need to lead by example. How the BSG moves will also depend on the BSG leaders. They need to create a learning environment by sharing their lives openly, how they integrate their spiritual learning with their daily life.

In order to grow, it all starts with a healthy discipleship environment.

Create one. It is never too late.


It is him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ (Col 1:28 NRSV)

You too have your story! :)

We all journey through this world.

Each one has his story, whether he likes it or not.

I love this poem. It brings me down to earth … and helps me in my journey.

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,

and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,

be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly;

and listen to others,

even to the dull and the ignorant;

they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons;

they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,

you may become vain or bitter,

for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;

it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,

for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;

many persons strive for high ideals,

and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.

Neither be cynical about love,

for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,

it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,

gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.

But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,

be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe

no less than the trees and the stars;

you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you,

no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,

whatever you conceive Him to be.

And whatever your labors and aspirations,

in the noisy confusion of life,

keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,

it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Fitting into the mould of Society? – Just Be myself

Different people climb the corporate ladder differently.

Some make it rich by shrewd investment – like Warren Buffet. A few by backstabbing. But most may be by ways of engaging the society, like what Wei Lin’s comment on my 16 July’s post. There is nothing wrong in that mould so long as our faith in Christ is not compromised.

On reflecting about myself …

I am not exactly a likeable person.

I am probably that person whom Wei Lin commented: “people don’t exactly care two hoots about you”. I am OK with that.

Yah, I don’t try to make an impression, not outspoken, not confident. Just ordinarily, very ordinary. If there is a mould that society wants me to fit into, I would probably be a square peg trying to fit into a round hole.

Why?

I try to live as transparent as I can and let other see me as I am – my strength and also my ugly sides. I don’t intrude into people’s private space or engage in strategic talks. But if you share, I’ll listen with confidentiality.

I don’t have many friends, not even a few.

What I value most is trust. “A Scout is to be trusted.” That is the first Scout Law I learned and obeyed.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend;
Profuse are the kisses of an enemy
(Prov 27:6 RSV)

H1N1 Imagination?

I started to have running and stuffy nose on Wednesday morning. Then it just dripped non stop.

Then I started to cough. And it got worse.

I remember reading somewhere in The Straits Times about the symptoms of H1N1 – fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, fatigues ….. “It seems that I am having it now.”

Suddenly began to feel cold. Then, feeling tired / fatigue.
The more I thought and analyzed, the more I coughed. Maybe it was psychological.

So I hid in my office and work on documents and computer simulations instead of mingling with others. Better be social responsible, just in case.

Went home early and drank a lot of honey lemon. Took a panadol and slept early.

Yesterday, I still had running nose and a mild cough but no fever. Maybe it was not H… Anyway, I had come to the office with a big container of honey lemon and a pack of strepsils.

OK, I still had a lot of work to do in the laboratory. “Just keep away from people”, so I thought.

Today, I woke up perfectly all right, except with a sore throat. It happened since Saturday, when I talked too much.

Well, just thinking too much!!

Legalism - right or wrong?

Can a Christian smoke?

No, lah!

Why not?

Bad for health, Christian should take care of his body.

Added to this were some other rules that I learnt when I first became a Christian in 1976. Here are some of them:
- Christian should not patronize a discotheque.
- Christian cannot go to a night club
- Christian cannot gamble
- Christian cannot get drunk
- Christian cannot marry a non-Christian
- Christian cannot go to a cinema!!

The last one may have shock you. But that was what my pastor would nicely encourage us to keep away from such places.

From what I understand, legalism then is the adherent to a system of rules and regulations (similar to the above) so as to protect us from sin. It is similar to the way of the Pharisees where they set up rules and regulation to protect the Mosaic Laws..

So should Christian abide by these legalism?

I remember many years ago when my wife and I are holidaying in Rome during the cold autumn. We saw 2 men dressed in priestly gowns drinking coffee and smoking. My wife was shocked and said to me: “How can Christians smoke?”

But honestly, there is no rule in the Bible that literally says that we cannot smoke or dance. Avoiding such things does not make us more holy. But indulging in them may lure us further and further away from the LORD. Our only commandment is Love God and Love others (Matt 22:37-40).

How then do we draw the line?

For me, I usually follow this principle, the 6-8-10 principle (from 1Cor 6, 8, 10):

1Cor 6:12 (NASV)
All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything

Avoid anything that will addict me.

1Cor 8:9 (NASV)
But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak

Avoid anything that will stumble another Christian.

1Cor10:31 (NASB)
Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

If it glorifies God, then it probably OK. If it is neutral, then check the other 2 principles.


These are my personal principles and not to be imposed on anybody. If others opinion differs from mine, then I need to act in grace. Remember the story of the woman caught in adultery by the Scribes and Pharisees in John 8? Clearly, the woman has committed a sin but Jesus Christ has gracefully pardoned her. Likewise, I don’t condemn Christians who marry non-Christians – deliberately or due to circumstances. They did nothing wrong (that is my view), but hopefully they can live godly lives and influence their spouses to Christ one day.

My final principle in life

Let all that you do be done in love. (1Cor 16:13)

Gal 5:13 (NASV)
For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

(freedom in Gal 5:13 mean free from the Law or legalism)

PTL :)

Why so Busy, ah?

Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro: He bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it.
(Psa 39:6)

A few nights ago, I saw an elderly couple running toward a bus stop as the bus was approaching. I guess they wouldn’t want to miss the bus and had to wait for another 10 minutes or so. I believed the bus driver might have noticed them (like me) running and was kind enough to wait for them at the bus stop.

My first thought was: “Why the hurry?” It was about 9:30pm. I was taking my usual stroll and reflection.

Yes, why so busy ah?

Am I bustling about in life, only in vain?

Anger kills feelings :(

The boss was very angry this very morning. :(

He called for a meeting at 9.30am through email. Not sure when he sent the email but I didn't receive it. Double check, yeah, no email.

The meeting started with a firing squad. Firing at everyone and nobody in particular.

That's how the day started :(

Death is the beginning of another New Life

Attending a funeral wake is better than going to a birthday party.

Although there are tears in a funeral, the emotions can be much deeper than just the fun and laughter in a party. The impact is more lasting.

Each time I attended a funeral wake, I am reminded of my earthly journey. One day, it will be my time to go. I must make use of the time left for me here, to do my master’s will.
Attending a non-Christian funeral always leave me very sad, sad that another soul has lost in eternity. But a Christian funeral is always a joyous occasion. We know that death is not the end of life, but the beginning. It is the beginning of a new journey in heaven with the Creator LORD.

Last night, at Jenny Lim’s mother funeral wake, this verse kept ringing in my mind: “For me to live is Christ, to die is gain”. Yes, death for a Christian is gain because it is a passage to a better place where there is no pain, sorrows and tears. Thank you, LORD, for Jenny’s mother who has known you and gone to be with you.

Thank you, LORD for being my Savior.

It is better to go to a house of mourning
than to go to a house of feasting,
for death is the destiny of every man;
the living should take this to heart.
(Ecclesiastes 7:2)

Never Too Old to Learn

I have finally done it!!

For the past few weeks, I was busy preparing the power point. Hence, all the focus is on doing this Understanding Biblical Narratives Power point.

Spend alot of time reading and searching the web sites for good illustrations. Also, I have studied many Bible passages for using as examples in the power point.

So no time to update this blog.

Never too old to learn :)

Non Stop Thinking …

I couldn’t sleep on Sunday night.

It has been a month since I last set the alarm to 5:50am. But the Light Emitting Display (LED) did not light up to indicate that the alarm was properly set. Would it ring at the appropriate time tomorrow morning? Would the children be late for school? Could I trust the digital alarm clock? I started getting a bit morbid as more questions flew.

Soon one thought drifted to another and then to another…

First thoughts were on my three girls. How will they grow up? Will I survive to see them grow up and their children? What kind of life will they be? …

Aiyah! Why think so far?

OK, better think about myself. It has been almost 10 years working in my company – Amplus Communication. Dealing with technical issues can be stressful. Then, thinking about retirement. But, the children are still so young. And there is not much saving. So, I probably have to work till 62. Not sure, I can last that long.

When I retire, I like to do some writing. Write on Christian stuffs.

Sure or not, who bother to read?

Yah, I better close down the Equipping the Saints blog. It is rotting. No comments and no interest.

Thinking about blog, It has been more than a year since I started one. And I have written more than a hundred posts. Just to practice my writing and reflection. But the response is poor. There is hardly any comment. Have I been writing a lot of rubbish? Or is it the kind of “silent” friends who prefer “to know and not to be known”.

Yah, everybody likes to keep their privacy.

But God knows our privacy!! So I decided not to have any privacy but be transparent. Or maybe I should write more general stuff and not personal thoughts and encounters.

…..

I didn’t realize that the thoughts drifted for hours.

And so ….. a tired Monday :o

Must Visit this site

My SBC lecturer, Rev Dr Rick Griffith has set a website.

http://web.me.com/singaporerick

Insides this website has all his lectures notes and powerpoints.

Lectures include Old Testament surveys, New Testament surveys, and many more.

The power points are very well done with alot of nice pictures that I copy from.

Do visit this site if you want to learn more about God's WORD.

Wasted Opportunity to help fellow Black Americans

Before Tiger Wood, there was Michael Jackson. Before Barrack Obama, there was Michael Jackson.

They were the well known black Americans. But Michael Jackson is better known than any black Americans in the world.

A very famous black American, Michael Jackson has died this week. Everybody loves his music, even a novice in music like me. Black, white, Hispanic and Asian love to hear him sing and watch him dance. Music unites races.

And he is perhaps the best black Americans to remove racial prejudice in the USA. But he didn’t. And he is perhaps the best black Americans to help his fellows black have a better life – build a Michael Jackson foundation, a Michael Jackson College, a Michael Jackson Hospital, a Michael Jackson Scholarship. But he didn’t.

Now, he is only remembered for his music, the king of pop. And nothing more.

***

Before Michael Jackson, there was Martin Luther King.

The Rev Dr Martin Luther King, a black American who was a pastor of a Baptist Church in the USA. He was neither rich, nor famous as compared to Michael Jackson. Few would have heard of his name. Yet, he lived to fight for civil right for his fellow black companion in the USA. And he died for his cause.


At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced that he would turn over the prize money of $54,123 to the furtherance of the civil rights movement.

On the evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was to lead a protest march in sympathy with striking garbage workers of that city, he was assassinated.
.
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-bio.html


Will Tiger Wood follows the step of Michael Jackson or Martin Luther King?

Will Barrack Obama follows the step of Michael Jackson or Martin Luther King?

How will they end their lives?

Was Lost but now am Found

I finally found it! :)

It was stuck in between 2 Daily Bread.

Bid me how it got there. And it was there since February, 4 months ago. Just because I wasn’t concentrating when packing my study room.

The feeling of finding something that I lost was euphoric. It’s not about the money in it. There’s not much money in it anyway.

It brings to mind: The thoughts of God finding us, spiritually lost but now am found must likewise cause the angels in heaven to rejoice (Luke 15:10)

PTL!

Have Fun with Sunglasses :)

Last Saturday (13 June), I accidentally broke the frame of my spectacles while having Bible Study with the Young Adults.

Then on Sunday (21 June), we went to an optician, Mr Chia, who shop is at Far East Plaza. It was such a long time since I went to Orchard.

Finally, decide to make a new spec, and replace the frame of the old spec. The children then started having fun at Mr. Chia's shop. We know Mr Chia since 1990, almost 20 years ago.

Stylo leh!!

Wah, gangster style now!!

So I decided to join in the fun!!

Just try to act funny lah!! :)

God makes me a father!

My Father’s Day thoughts:

The best thing God has given me in this life is ….

My 3 girls :)

If not for these 3 girls, at best I can only be a husband, a god-father or an adopted father.

After being a father, I know understand why God is called our Heavenly Father.

Thank You, Heavenly Father.

An Engineer’s Praise on God’s Creation

Work, work, WORK … A tired week. Finally, a time for rest and reflection. :)


1 O LORD! How fascinating are the work of your hands.
How marvelous and intrigue are the things you make.

2 Unseen things you make that are more powerful
and potent then those that are seen.
Invisible things are more vicious and useful than the invisible.

3 Virus, photons and electrons;
things that are around us,
yet we mere creatures seem naïve of them.

4 But LORD, You grant wisdom
and creativity to us to detect and use them.
The equipments make from your wisdom
help us to detect the invisible things.
The ingenuity you bestowed on us helps makes
the photons and electrons into useful signals.

5 Great are your creation, God;
Worthy to be praised is your name.

6 Many are the difficulties to fathom your work.
Many are the challenges to discover your physical laws.

7 We see your moon and stars;
we learn to make our own satellites

8 We hear your lightning and thunder;
we invent our communication – hand phone, radio, TV and internet.

9 We sense your presence, the unseen that can see,
So we build our own radar; the unseen that can see

10 How wise and creative are you, O LORD!
Let all engineers praise your knowledge and creativity.
How awesome and marvelous are you! :)

Watch how we speak!

I didn't know Psalm also talk about how people speak!

I thought it was just in the Book of James and Proverbs

In Psalm 12, I learnt about how I should be careful in my speech -

(1) lies (verse 2a)
(2) flattering with deception (verse 2b)
(3) boastful (verse 3)
(4) self-centred words (verse 4)
(5) people groaned (verse 5a)
(6) malign (verse 5b)

Yet, the Word of the LORD is flawless :) (verse 6)

Today devotion brings back memory of a time when someone spoke carelessly and hurt another. ...

It was in a BSG meeting when we were studying 2Cor 6 about unequally yoke with unbelievers. The opening question was "What would you do if you have fallen in love with an unbeliever?" Being a BSG leader and preparing this study on my own, I feared the greatest fear that this question might stumbled someone would come true.

Sad to say, it did happened. I hated this question :(

On Sunday BSG, one sister-in-Christ who seldom spoke up felt it was time to speak since the question was directing at her. (She just got married to an unbeliever). She explained that she will try to bring her husband to church and led him to Christ.

Then a brother strongly stated his stand, without due consideration and compassion. that Christian should not be involved with unbeliever. He even spoke for God: "Do you think God would be pleased when we have relationship with non-Christian?"

I felt sad then, feeling how insensitive such a brotherly action was. Words spoken was hurtful. I felt sad for this sister because she was already in the relationship towards marriage before she became a Christian.

She had long left the church and went to another church.

A careless word may kindle strife,
A cruel word may wreck a life.
A bitter word may hate instill,
A brutal word may smite and kill.

A gracious word may smooth the way,
A joyous word may light the day.
A timely word may lessen stress,
A loving word may heal and bless.

PTL

A night at the Beach

I took a quiet stroll down the Pasir Ris Beach late tonight.

Too bad, just too many youths partying and BBQ there. Make so much noise :(

This week, as with the past week, the focus is on the Psalms. It has been lingering on my mind for most of the time. I have been another good week. For once, I have stopped thinking about Bethany, and the things in Bethany. Good to be detached with Bethany.

I have come to understand what it means to walk with God. It is not about giving. It is not about doing. You can guess what it is about. Maybe, you can read the Psalms more often and you will know how I feel know.

I shall not write too much about what I learn from the Psalms. Sound too boastful. And act spiritual. No good, no good!

Still, it has become a habit to start devotion early in the morning on Psalm. It’s about God and me … not so much about what others think or care.

No mosquitoes at the beach tonight, surprise! I could sit there for hours. But it is not so windy tonight. It has been a hot week anyway.

Spend the time thinking, praying, thinking, praying, ….

I had a good time at the beach. Will do this more often, especially on a Friday night. Better than a Bethany prayer meeting.

PTL

Psalm 10 – Triumph over wickedness

Psalm Category: Acrostic Psalm

Today’s reading of Psalm speaks to me to evaluate my life about wickedness.

Some characteristics of wickedness:
(1) arrogance & schemer (v2)
(2) greedy & revile God (v3)
(3) No room for God (v4)
(4) Far from God’s law (v5)
(5) Self –centred thinking (v6)
(6) Speech – curses, lies, threats, evil (v7)
(7) No godly accountability (v8 & 13)

In spite of all the wickedness, the Psalmist sees, he calls on the LORD to defeat the wicked and delivers those who all under the clutches of the wicked.

There is this assurance that good triumph over evil.

As for me, it is a time to reflect over my life – in speech, thought and action.

Is God the center of my every doing?

Psalm 9 – The Lord, our righteous Judge!

Psalm Category: Acrostic Psalm

The main lesson I learn today from this devotion is that God is my righteous Judge.

The words – judging righteously (verse 4), judgment (v7), judge (v8 & 19); justice (v8 & 16) keeps appearing in this Psalm.

Justice will always be carried out to all who believe in the LORD. So, like the Psalmist, I can praise our LORD with all my heart (verse 1).

Memory Verse (verse 9):
The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.


PTL