A Stagnant Pool or a Flowing Stream

I left Bethany Church at the beginning of this year and worship at a church near my home.

Some people may wonder why I do so. Have I backslide; one member of Bethany Church emailed me. Some see me as “quitter”, a famous word coined by a former Prime Minister for those who leave Singapore to stay in a foreign country.

I have been in Bethany church for 25 years. That is a long time. I have rendered my time, energy and money for the work of the church all these years without grumbling or complaining. Prior to coming to Bethany, I was with another church for 10 years which later closed down. I was also with the Navigators, a para-church organization during my youth and university days. So I am quite exposed to church growth, church health and how church fades away. All these years in Bethany, I have observed that the church health and growth have somehow impeded. Occasionally, I casually mentioned to the Pastor and sometime to the leaders. It is up to them to respond to my sharing.

Bethany is very small. In 1989 we had about 28 members. In 2011, I read from Facebook that Bethany have her 100th members. But, we know that not all the 100 members are still worshipping in Bethany. Most of these memberships are due to biological growth. Our children have grown up. Why is the growth slow? From my perspective, I see the church becoming a stagnant pool. I tried to change that many times. But after reaching the age of 50, I decide to find a flowing stream than to transform a stagnant pool into a flowing stream.

To grow, I need to drink from a flowing stream, not a stagnant pool.

I know that there are many good Bethany members also realize this. So they attend courses organized by other churches such as St. Andrew Cathedral and even the BSF classes. Some joined other churches on mission trips and training courses. I too, attended classes from the Singapore Bible College because Bethany is not feeding her flock. Sunday sermon is the bare minimum for every church. But primarily, the church should be feeding her lamb and her sheep. No, I am not talking about a 1 to 2 hours spur of the moment teaching or training. It must be a structured continuous feeding the lambs and sheep until they too are able to feed others.

With a change of leadership, my hope and prayer is that Bethany can become a flowing stream.

Psalm 1:3
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.

The Right Focus

We are often distracted and discouraged when we see better competitors and challenges ahead.

Focus on the goal, not the obstacles.

A few days before the cross country race, my daughter found out that only the top 15 of each level will get a trophy. There were more than 300 runners in each level and also there are many athletes among here peers. As she is not actively involving in any sport in school, she got a bit concern and sent me an SMS:

“Bad news. The cross country only top 15 get price for per level… And plus all the sport, so many already.”

In a race, it is not about your competitors, but yourself. You are running against the clock. So I told her to just do her best and enjoy the run. Winning is secondary. Focus on the end point and sense your performance along the way … start slow, build up and end strongly.

During the race day, I prayed for her. I hoped that she learnt a vital lesson from this run. The lesson is to do her personal best.

After the race, she texted us:

“EVERYONE I GOT 10 POSITION FOR CROSS COUNTRY THANK GOD”

I am happy for her.

As I reflect on this, a verse came to mind:

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrew 12:1,2)

In life, there will always be better competitors, insurmountable challenges, difficulties and trials. All these will test my faith. The way to run this race of life then is to fix my eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

Agape

2 are better than 1

We need someone to pace with us.

Last weekend, my daughter and I ran 10 laps of 400metres track around the Sea Shell Park near my home. She was preparing for her school 4Km run and I thought this might be a good prep run for her. It wasn’t a very fast run, but for her age to clock about 22 minutes is quite a decent timing. Still, I think she felt the pain as she tried to endure through the whole distance.

Discipline, endurance, … self-control …

These words flooded my mind as I reflect on what we have gone through that afternoon. I am glad that she made it and completed her 4Km run.

Yesterday, she sent me an SMS and wrote that she tried to do it again on herself. This time she only managed to complete 7 laps.

Maybe it’s because she slept late last night (after 1am with all those school works :( )

Also, it’s easier to give up when the pain is building up and running alone. We runners all know that. Running in groups is easier. We motivate one another.

In our spiritual journey we also need someone to run with us.

Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor: (Ecc 4:9)

I thank God that when I first became a Christian, an older Christian came along and guide me in my growth. Oftentimes, he checked on my Scripture Memory verses, studied the Bible and shared his life with me. Later, he taught me how to do it to others. Then, it was my turn to teach them how to teach others. It’s exciting to be “spiritual grandfather”.

If it wasn’t for all this Christian brother to come along my way, I would just be a Sunday churchgoer today.

The "Still small voice"

How often are we conscious of God’s presence in our midst?

Familiarity breeds contempt, so they say. That probably drowns my consciousness of God’s presence.

But on Wednesday, I had a change of routine. This week is Communic Asia Expo 2011 and I was on duty at Marina Bay Sand Convention Centre. Colleagues advised me to take the train there to avoid the exorbitant car parking price. OK, it has been a long time since I last took the Mass Rapid Transit and I have not even taken the Circle Line since it started operating.

In the train, a heard a lady about my age kept grumbling: “I am squeezed!” and the train I was in was not even fully packed. I was a bit irritated and start harboring ill feelings about her, when I felt within me whispering: “Don’t judge!” My mood immediately changed and I told myself that she was not feeling well. It was then that I heard her daughter asking her about her medication.

Hmmn, was God trying to teach me something?? Does God still speak to me? For me, whether God speaks loud and clear or the “still small voice” inside me speaking does not matter. What I need is able to response correctly to this “still small voice”. Maybe that is the way, God gets my attention …

… after the fire, came a gentle whisper … (1King 19:12)


Agape

Open or close door?

Whenever there is a slight vibration on the adjacent wall of my office, the door just swing back and close by itself. The door’s magnetic holder has weakened its magnetic field, no longer strong enough to keep the door open. It takes me a while to ensure the door stays open every morning when I go into my office. This has been going on for weeks now and I found myself keep asking:

Should I just leave the door close at all time?

That’s what my bosses – the President of the Company, the General Managers do.
Likewise, other Vice Presidents also shut their doors.

I think those who shut their offices' doors prefer to do things in privacy, and maybe telling others not to disturb them unless necessary. This thought is not wild guessing. Working with them for more than a decade, I can safely say this is also in line with their characters.

For me I prefer to have my office door opens at all times. Colleagues can just pop in any time, without ever to knock. It’s my way of saying: “You are welcome to interrupt me. Just drop by for a chat!”

…

In life, I definitely like God to open doors of opportunities and ministries for me:
See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. (Rev 3:8)

In prayer, I long for open door:
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (Matt 7:7)

To others, I need to be like Job:
but no stranger had to spend the night in the street, for my door was always open to the traveler (Job 31:32)

To my Lord, I want to response with an open door:
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. (Rev 3:20)



I think I need to buy a door stopper soon … In the meantime; I will just fold a piece of paper many times and slide it under the door to keep it opens. :)

… and be an “open-door” person!

Agape

Lost ... and getting back on track

It’s quite fearful when one is lost and does not know the way home!

Late last night, as I was walking around the quiet neighborhood, a teenager came out to me and asked for direction.

He asked, “How to go to Temasek Polytechnic?”

“Why do you want to go to Temasek Polytechnic, it’s so late now?”

Through the conversation (as I walked with him to a bus stop to catch a bus home), I found out that he was actually lost. He has taken a correct bus but headed toward the wrong direction and he ended up in Pasir Ris. He then wandered about in Pasir Ris. The fear in his face showed it all. But boy being boy (he is in Secondary 1), he was struggling to contain his emotion. I got him to talk to his father through my hand phone. …

After waiting for a long while with him at the bus stop, he finally got up the bus. It must be quite an experience for him.

…


All we like sheep has gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way …

Being lost and gone astray is quite scary. We need help to get back on track again. Spiritually, we are also like that. By making a wrong decision, we drift off and get further and further away (ending up in the East of Singapore!).

I also thought about my children who are not much age difference from this boy. How would they respond if they were lost? Are they smart enough to find their way home? More worrying is, would they know that they are spiritually going astray?

Agape

A Book of Complaining

I have been reading the Bible quite constantly since the beginning of this year, alternating a book from the Old Testament and the New – Genesis, Mark, Exodus, Acts, Leviticus, Hebrews, Numbers … Intersperse reading with some wisdom chapters of Psalms and Proverbs to spice up the reading.

The Book of Number, in particular strike me as a book of complaining. The people complain of no food and no water. The spies complain of difficulty to take the land of Canaan. The Levites complain and rebel. Even Mariam and Aaron (sister and brother of Moses) complain.

It’s tough to live with people that’s always complaining and bitching around.

The results? … All these complainers die without entering the promise land. And they have to move about for 40 years aimlessly. The Book literally covers a 39 years span of time.

Maybe I complain too much also?

Well, thank God for reading this book.

It was quite enlightening.

I may spend a lot of time this year to study this book. :)

Shaming those who fail to turn up for Sunday worship

A new and powerful way of shaming those who do not turn up for Sunday worship – publish their names on facebook (if they have a facebook account). The name list is not in alphabetical order. My name is first in the list. Clearly, I am the most hated person in Bethany Presbyterian Church now. :(

Only the powerful people in the church dare to do that to their sheep. The pastor’s sister-in-law is the church police now. This reminds me of the temple polices in Jesus’ time. They came and arrested Jesus during the night. … (you know the rest of the story)

Good sermons are hard to come by

After missing so many good sermons for the past 20 years (?), the last 2 months of Sunday sermons have totally changed my life perspective and bring me closer to the Almighty.

Some people, if not, most people from Bethany may be thinking that I have backslided. Received an email lately:

Hi Mark

Its a long time since I last saw you in church. Hope everything is well with you. …

I hope you will return to church although I do not know what problem you are facing. From my own personal viewpoint, I believe it is very important to fix our eyes on Jesus and do not let happenings affect us. Ultimately it is to the Lord that we will answer when we meet HIM.

Brother Mark, I hope to see your family again. I will pray for you all.


My reply:

Thank you for your concern. We are fine and doing well.

… I am attending a church near my house that provides thought-provoking, soul-searching and practical sermons every Sunday. I wouldn't want to miss such sermons, yet.

Blessings

Yah, I have learnt alot from the sermons and the style of delivery, structuring, and oratory skills. Each Sunday is a different speaker. This month March, the church is inviting well- known Singapore Speakers - Rev Dr Edmund Chan, and Rev Dr (Bishop) Solomon, Then we will have Gordon MacDonald from the USA coming. We have read his books, now to hear him speak.

Problems? No! ... Growing? YES!! :))

How exciting!

Getting impatience?

“Dad, the students are crossing!”

My daughter blurted out as I tried to ease my car through a seemingly never ending stream of students at the zebra crossing just outside her school this morning.

There was no road marshal to control the flow of students crossing today. School starts later on Monday.

I have been waiting at the zebra crossing for many minutes. And the students just stagger along, moving at their own sweet time with gaps in between. So, I just ease through the gap. It looks pretty harmless anyway.

Maybe I got a bit impatience after waiting for seem like a long time. As usual, I try to rationalize with her. “No lah, I just squeeze through. It quite safe”

On reflection, has my action being callous? What if a student suddenly walked faster and I happened to knock him down or just cause a minor injury? Certainly, I was at fault, no matter what. What if a traffic police is around …

Love is patience, Love is kind…

It’s good that she pointed this out to me. :)

A Good Sunday Sermon

How does one consider a Sunday service sermon as a good message?

For me, the last 2 Sunday sermons that I heard keep appearing in my mind for the rest of the week. The message keeps re-appearing and prompting me to act and do what it says throughout my days.

It's amazing that how such a message can captivate me (and the congregation, I guess). Maybe, that is why the church is growing by leaps and bounds.

Last Sunday sermon was delivered by a Singaporean, definitely younger than me. A youth Pastor. Yet, the message is simple and clear. The strong point is that: he spoke to the congregation, not reading from a prepared write-out.

So different.

Glad I am there to here it.

Strange email

I seldom check email these days, but received a strange email today from someone I know long time ago. (He had my email address):

Hello.

Hope you are doing well today? I am in great sorrow writing this note, I could barely think straight at this point, I'm sorry I didn't inform you about my travelling. I am presently in Madrid, Spain on short programme and as I write to you now, its unbelievable am stranded, got robbed at gun point on my way to a hotel and my money, credit cards, phone and other valuable things were stolen, thank almighty God for save keeping my passport. I really need your urgent assistance quickly, I need loan of $1,500 to sort out my hotel bills and other transactions or any amount you can raise for me, I promise to refund it back to you with interest once i get back home. I have some money in my account but i can't access any here right now, already cancelled all my cards immediately after the criminal stole my things. I am left at the public internet library where am making use of the free internet access so that I could contact whomever that can help me. I will forever be grateful if you can help me, Waiting to hear from you quickly because my return flight leaves soon but need to sort the hotel bills and other expenditures. Please save me from been embarrassed.


Name: XXX XXX XXX Sam

Address: Paseo De Las Delicias 26, 28045 Madrid, Spain.

Text Question: What is receiver's date of birth?
Answer: 21 Dec 1970


Please remember to send me full details of the transfer such as MTCN (money transfer control number) or scan copy of the transfer receipt so that i can get the money here without any delay or problem. Trust me; I will refund back the money to you including the transfer charges on my arrival. I will check my e-mail again later to have the western union transfer details.

Thank you for your help



How would you response?

Pants for the Flowing Water

It's such a long time that I post in this blog, ... but yesterday morning I woke up with this song on my head - As a deer panteth for the water...

Maybe I was hoping to see more people thirst for God and a thought keeping coming to me.
So I started to write it all down on a piece of paper what to do.

Would the plan materialise or just shelf it somewhere in my cupboard like all the others?


Psalms 42

Me & My Big Mouth

It has been weeks of deep thoughts!

All because I want to know what God is doing in Bethany. Maybe I shouldn’t ask HIM this question. Who am I to ask the Almighty what HE is doing. And, that kind of questions should be asked by the Pastor, the Elders and Deacon of the church, not me.

Me: “Lord, what are You doing in Bethany?”

Lord: “See all those who stray away and have not return for a long time?”

Me: “Huh! Sorry, have forgotten them …”

Lord: “Not me, I remember them. Always on the look out for them to come back to me.”

Me: “Must need a lot of patience though”

Lord: “Sure have. Want to join me to bring them back?”

Me: “What? Me? Lord, You ask the wrong guy. I don’t have the persuasiveness to talk. I can’t talk lah!”

Lord: “Well, why then ask me what I am doing in Bethany?”

Me: (thinking) “Ooop! Me and my big mouth” :(

Morale of this experience – It’s better not to be able to hear what God is speaking than to hear and not obey. I now know why being an Old Testament prophet is a tough job.

Agape

The parable of the COMING HOME

Last night, as I was walking along the quiet street along my house, thinking and praying for some people, the thought about “COMING HOME” struck me. I shall call it the parable of the COMING HOME.

OK, probably, I have read a lot about parables for the last 3 weeks. And so, it infiltrates my thoughts. You know, the story in Luke 15:11-32 about a boy who left home and was warmly welcome home by the father? Yeah, I always love to write a parable like this but with a modern and local version that is close to all our hearts. And yes, this one speaks to me right now.

I was praying for those who have left our “HOME” and have not yet come back. We or rather I as a longing father is looking out for them. Then there is another son who is helping in my home. I want this son to also join me in bringing the other brother home. Got the hint? Can guess what and who I am praying?

If you are reading this, think:
(1) Am I the son who has left home?
(2) Am I the other brother who is working at home? Would I join the father to get my brother back home?
(3) I may be not the sons or father, would I join this father (that’s me, Mark) to help bring back the son?

OK, I am blogging in parable and if it speaks to you, you probably understand what I am writing.

Agape

That's Life!

My colleague is back from medical leave for one month and yet my boss still wants me to report and cover some of his jobs which I was doing during his absence. :(

My feelings are …. %#@^ ??? :(

And the projects -many and difficults -are still in development with problems. (which probably stir up fear)

But my LORD is my strength, I will not be shaken.
He makes my feet like hind feet,
He steers me through the quicksand;
And in HIS strength, I will gladly do what is before me!

Learning to seek peace

When things go wrong, finger pointing is very common :(

Worst is when you are unknowing caught into it. And that is what I am in the midst of it now.

Since last year, we have collaboration with an Australian guy (stationed in Singapore) on a UK project. My engineer, who resigned last month was working on it and has handed over to this Australian guy since September 2009. We thought everything was going on smoothly, since we have not heard of it for the whole one year or so… Then last week, he started to find faults. He started to question our design, the way we did things and all the craps … emails that are very hard to read and swallow, and arouse an immediate retaliation.

And on many occasions, my spirit within me was very stirred up. It’s a challenge to hold on to peace. Many times, I felt like speaking up and replying to all the emails but … still it take great strength to remain calm. And thank God, the fruit of the Spirit is GENTLENESS – strength under control.

And so, I just keep to the technical issues and try to resolve the problem. As to the sarcastic remarks about our design not properly done, poor ways of doing things, etc… these are just personal opinions that I choose to ignore.

During Sunday Bible study, one verse seemed like God’s voice telling me what to do:

Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.
(Psalm 34:14)

No wonder I was very much constrained in spirit not to do evil things.


Monday (yesterday):
As I was talking to my product manager who was also involved in this project, he started cursing and using the f*** word at the Australian guy (though not in his presence). I thought I was the only one getting emotional.

I am still learning to seek peace.

Devotional Thought: Being Approachable

How approachable are you?

When people have trouble or need an advice, would they approach me to seek me out for help?

NO! :(

These thoughts linger on my mind as I read today’s devotions from Our Daily Bread on Mark 2:13-17. Our Lord Jesus Christ was so approachable that even sinners and tax collectors ate with him.

As for me, no, I don’t think people see me as approachable. There are even people in the church who reject me as friends in Facebook. At least 5 people, as far as I can remember. So, that says so much about me.

And that is the main reasons why I am disqualified to be a leader in the church. It is not about doing things here and there in the church.

It is about connecting with people.

Sermon reflection: The sanctity of Life

Actually, the passage on Leviticus 17 is not about calling us to respond with:

“Lord, what can I do for you?”

or

“Lord, what do you want me to be?”

The whole passage is about BLOOD. And blood is LIFE (verse 14).

(Ya lah!, the word “blood” keeps repeating in the whole passage)

When an animal is killed, the blood is taken out and the animal dies. In Leviticus 17, the Israelites were told not to anyhow dispose the blood or even eat (or drink) the blood (verse 4 and 10).

If the animal is used as a sacrifice, the blood must be brought to the entrance of the tent of meeting (verse 4). If the animal is slaughtered for food, the blood must be poured out on the ground and cover with earth (verse 13). Here, we see that when death occurs, it must return to the LORD. (The tent of meeting is GOD’s presence (v4). The earth (v13) belongs to GOD). So, life or death, the animal belongs to God.

We all know that God is the creator and giver of LIFE (Genesis 1 & 2). So this passage reminds me that God is also the receiver of DEATH. Whether I live or die, I belong to GOD. Likewise for every creatures that have life, including animals and human. Do not take the life (which is the blood) and offer it to idols or abuse it by drinking it. Only God has the right to life.

It’s all about putting God in first place of my life, even if I were to die (Lev 17:1-9). Secondly, it’s all about the sanctity of life - the life of people (Lev 17:10-16). That pretty much sum up the GREAT COMMANDMENT – love God, love people (Luke 10:27.28).

It calls me to my relationship with GOD and with people. It’s not about doing things for GOD. Neither do I need to be someone for GOD. It’s like the story of the footprint in the sand.

OK, so I need to always look at all people with respect, they too have the rights of life as they are also created in the image of God, no matter how lowly they are in society.

The most important in this earth is LIFE, it last for eternity.

Change my perspective, change my life! :)

I am learning to see the present in the light of the end.

The last one month of difficult encounters and maintaining reflective silence has taught me many things. Above all, I learn to look at things from different perspective.

Recently I am reading this book – Finishing Well by Dr. David Wong. It’s about Bible people living their lives and how they close their life’s chapters. It is a wonderful book with many insightful lessons to learn – how Joseph closing a chapter of hurt; Naomi closing a chapter of loss; David; Samuel; etc. I wish all my Christian friends read this easy-to-read book. (David Wong is a Singaporean pastor, trained in Fuller Theological Seminary).

In this book, he shared a wonderful illustration:

In 1946, following the end of the Second World War, a Jewish prisoner-of-war published a book about his years in the concentration camp of the Nazis. In his book, Viktor E. Frankl describes his time in prison as “one misery after another.” He was constantly worrying about whether there would be enough food for the day, whether the foreman at work would be cruel, whether he could find a string to tie his shoes.

This went on for a while. One day he decided that enough was enough. He saw a vision of himself standing in a well-lit auditorium addressing hundreds of people sitting in posh cushioned chairs. He was dressed in a suit and giving a lecture on what life was like under Hitler during the war.

“I became disgusted with the state of affairs which compelled me, daily and hourly, to think of only such trivial things. I focused my thoughts to turn to another subject. Suddenly, I saw myself standing on the platform of a well-lit, warm and pleasant lecture room. In front of me sat an attentive audience on comfortable upholstered seats. I was giving a lecture on the psychology of the concentration camp!

“All that oppressed me at that moment became objective, seen and described from the remote viewpoint of science. By this method I succeeded somehow in rising above the situation, above the sufferings of the moment, and I observed them as if they were already in the past.”

From the day Viktor Frankl saw his life’s final outcome, every experience was viewed differently. Every experience was viewed from the perspective of his vision. Every experience, however hard and painful, became material for his lecture on life in a German concentration camp. His life took on a different perspective, a life’s perspective.

***

This wonderful life’s perspective of Viktor Frankl has changed tremendously my recent feelings and encounter. It no longer become stressful, but become material for my future use…