The Saints Go Marching In!

JESUS LOVES ME THIS I KNOW

2007-04-26T01:38:00.000-07:00

Children who goes through Sunday School will find this simple song familiar:

Jesus loves me this I know
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak but He is strong

Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
The Bible tells me so

The simple song carries a profound message : The love of God through Jesus Christ His Son. Originally, we are all doomed to eternal separation from the presence of God. But for the sacrificial love of God we are able to change that by knowing our sinful state, repent of our sins, believing in Jesus Christ that He died and rose from the dead, and to follow Jesus all the days of our lives.

Yes, Jesus loves me and Jesus loves you too!

CRUEL REALITY

2007-04-17T21:17:00.000-07:00

The senseless massacre of 32 University students in Virginia is a stark reminder of the evil that lurks around us.

No one could imagine how the seemingly simple-looking Korean final-year student could have carried out this 'Rambo-style' killing and having no sense of the value of life, let alone, his very own. Could it be he was just re-enacting something he had been playing on his computer, day after day, ..... weeks after weeks, ..... months after months? Could it be he no longer knew the difference between reality and role-playing?

Though in Singapore, we are thankful for the strict laws against possessing firearms. However, what's there to stop someone from using other forms of weapons.

Troubled teens are everywhere and in every school. Look no further and you will encounter someone who are addicted to computer gaming. Those whom we have encountered and counseled are only the tip of the iceberg. More problems are just waiting to be manifested.

I sincerely believe that prayers for the St Andrew's Village has in a certain way kept the situation manageable. We need to keep praying that the forces of darkness are broken by the power and redemptive blood of Jesus Christ who is the Lord of the Village!

Join me in praying for St Andrew's Village.

POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE

2007-02-28T03:43:00.000-08:00

There was a hunter who had a very special retriever dog - it walks on water! One day, he thought he should show his special dog to his friend who was always looking at life negatively. Maybe his speical dog could change his perspective.

So, the hunter invited his friend on a hunting trip. As expected, the friend asked whether it will rain, whether there will be birds, whether he will be accidentally shot at, etc, etc. ... all the negativity.

The hunter saw the opportunity to show off his special dog when he shot a wild geese from the sky. He commanded his retriever dog to fetch the fallen bird and indeed, the dog showed his special ability to walk on water and retrieved the bird.

The friend saw all that has happened and told his hunter friend: "There is something wrong with your dog - he can't swim!"

Are you always looking at things negatively?

Are you always saying that your glass is half empty? (and it's going to be fully empty).

Maybe it is time to say that your glass is half full and it can be filled to the brim!

Are you thinking that you can't be an achiever? Think again! Maybe it is all about changing your perspective - changing from negative to positive.

Proverbs 3 : 5,6 tells us that We should trust the God with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding. In all our ways, acknowledge Him and He will make our paths straight.

God bless.

TIME FLIES

2006-12-15T04:12:00.000-08:00

Time flies!

Yes, I am referring to the actual seconds, minutes, hours that have gone past even as I type!

Do you know that the phrase "Time Flies" is worth (I think) USD250,000 (or was it in millions?)when TIME magazine engaged an advertising company in (I think) the mid 80's to promote that their magazine will be readily available because it will be shipped out, by air, of course! Two simple words and the rest is history.

It reminds me of three words spoken on the cross that also shaped history. "It is finished" Jesus said as He breathed His last (physical life). It also signified the completion of the "mission" God has assigned Him to do - to save the world through His sacrificial death - only those who have faith to believe in Him and His death and His resurrection.

During this Advent season, let us pause to be reminded why Jesus came into this broken world.

Spare a thought for those who are less fortunate. Cheer them up, in whatever way you feel comfortable in doing - giving financially or volunteering in some charitable organisations.

May the good Lord bless you with His abundant grace.

UNIMAGINABLE!

2006-10-26T05:22:00.000-07:00

Unimaginable! Yes, truly unimaginable but surely only by the grace and mercies of God!

Elizabeth, our 11 year old daughter, suffers from Autism - a neurological disorder that makes her special from other children. Teaching her simple traffic observations is a constant "nightmare" as she simply doesn't comprehend danger. She has never cross any road alone, let alone watch out simply for traffic in a carpark.

Last week, the unimaginable thing happened! Elizabeth has been told countless times to WAIT for her parent(s) if ever we are late. We have never been late before, not until last Monday, that is.

Upon reaching her school (Pathlight School) in Ang Mo Kio, she was nowhere to be found.

Instinctively, my wife drove and back-tracked the route which we usually travel to her school.

Lo and behold, Elizabeth was spotted walking alone and was almost half way home to Hougang! She has already crossed a few major roads, not counting the heavy traffic at the AMK Industrial area! I still get shivers thinking about it.

Only God knows and only His grace and mercies protected her from any harm. Praise the Lord!

BUILDING ON STRONG FOUNDATION!

2006-10-12T09:50:00.000-07:00

Westin Stamford (or now called Swissotel the Stamford) had the distinction of being the world's tallest hotel prior to 1992.

This elegant & tall building is still standing strong and steady only because of the unique foundation the building is built upon.

Do you know that it took 30 continuous days, 24 hours of continuous pouring of concrete just to complete the foundation! It is almost likened to pouring concrete to build a dam! That's a lot of concrete! And that's what I call STABILITY!

Our character depends on the values we build our foundation on. Lousy values, lousy character. Strong values, strong character. It is as simple as that!

Jesus tells us that those who put to practice the commandments of God are like those who built their house on solid rock that when the winds and rains come, the house stands strong. And those who don't have built their houses on sand.

What are you building your foundation on? Strong values, I hope.

PRIDE COMES BEFORE A FALL!

2006-09-28T17:59:00.000-07:00

Here's another frog story!

A frog wanted to visit his cousin in a far away land. However, he was not up to traveling many weeks to get there.

Just then, he saw his friend - a stork - not too far from him and he asked : "Will you be flying in this direction?" The frog was excited that his friend said "yes!".

He had a brilliant plan and was so proud about it.

"Could you fly me to my cousin's place?" he asked his friend, the stork.

"Sure but how?" the stork replied.

"Well, simple! This is my brilliant plan. You bite onto one end of a stick and I will bite onto the other. When I reach my cousin's place, just drop me off!"

"OK" said the frog's friend and off they went.

Just as they past a field where some farmers were working, the farmers exclaimed when they saw the sight of this marvelous mode of transportation " Hey, look, that IS AN FANTASTIC WAY OF TRAVELING. I WONDER WHOSE BRILLIANT IDEA IT WAS?"

The frog heard it and was filled up with PRIDE and said "It's me...e...e..e...e..e..e.e..e!!!!!"

So, friends, before you open your mouth to boast, maybe it is better to think before you speak. Pride certainly comes before a fall.

Everything Happens For The Good!

2006-09-23T08:37:00.000-07:00

There was a king who always goes out with his advisor on hunting trips. His advisor always give his favorite advice "Everything happens for the good."

One day, the king went hunting and had a little accident - he shot his own foot with an arrow. He instinctly asked his advisor what he thought about this awful accident. His advisor, as in any other situations, replied "Everything happens for the good.". This infuriated the king and he threw him into prison. The king then asked him how he feels about this and his reply was still "Everything happens for the good!" The king left disgusted and decided to go hunting again, this time alone.

Unfortunately, the king wandered too far into the jungle and was caught by cannibals where he was to be the evening meal for them. Before putting him into the cooking pot he was thoroughly inspected as it was in the cannibals' tradition. Upon seeing the wound on the king's foot, they couldn't have him for dinner and threw him back into the jungle.

The king suddenly realised what his advisor had said.

When the king shared this with the advisor, the advisor thanked the king for sending him to the prison. The surprised king asked why. He said had he not been thrown into prison, he would have followed the king into the jungle and be caught by the cannibals and will likely end up as their dinner.

Indeed, Everything happens for the good!

Moral of the story : Everything in life happens for a purpose and always for our own good. When we learn from our past difficult situations, we become better persons.

Bring Your Umbrella!

2006-09-12T08:16:00.000-07:00

What differentiates a Christian that says he believes and a Christian that believes?

A group of Christians decided to go and pray for rain in a drought-stricken land. All except one says that God can bring rain upon the land when they pray. The Christian that stood out amongst the rest was the one who brought an umbrella, anticipating a downpour!

Which one are you?

The Lord says, "The battle is not yours!"

2006-09-10T23:42:00.000-07:00

With many prayers uttered through the gathering of His people from CHS over the last few weeks for the cleansing of the land and in preparation of the return back to "home base" after 40 months of wandering and wondering, the spiritual intensity has increased.

This is good and this is "bad".

The good is that the Lordship of Jesus Christ is recognised (and indeed it must!) by the dark spiritual forces that are prevalent in Potong Pasir. CHS must not be complacent about praying and the unclean spirits must be expelled wherever they are!

The "bad" is that there will be certain but limited "repercussions". Spiritual attacks, manifesting in illness, discord amongst members, dirsuptions to routine, etc. can and have happened. However, the Lord Jesus Christ will ultimately be victorious as we submit to Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords. We can and will render the evil ones powerless by the blood of Jesus Christ!

I believe the phrase in St Andrew's School song "Lives are in the making here. Hearts are in the waking here." applies also to the community in Potong Pasir!

May Jesus Christ be lifted high for all to see!

Challenges Ahead

2006-09-06T08:31:00.000-07:00

3 months have passed since my uprooting from my church of 26 years (been there since 1979) and into another wonderful church in Potong Pasir - Chapel of the Holy Spirit.

Lots of names to remember but surely the warm reception I received from the members of CHS will remain etched in my mind forever! Praise the Lord!

Lots of challenges ahead: the greatest being preparing for the return to the CHS building for the regular activities - services, youth activities, prayer meetings, committee meetings, etc. With every major transition comes major renewal and changes. People are generally resistant to changes but when the Holy Spirit unites the hearts of the people, there is consensus! Praise the Lord!

Chaplaincy work is going on smoothly. I am thankful for the great team of Ben, Aaron, Darren & Salmon. Praise the Lord!

BB ministry is slowly but surely finding its connection back to CHS. Praise the Lord!

Saints For Christ ministry is also finding its purpose and footing. Praise the Lord!