Andrew: Inside & Insights

“Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever.

I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view.

I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!

You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally.

I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.”

1 Corinthians 9:19-24 (The Message)

1. What’s your ideal partner like?

Someone who’s not only God-fearing, but loves people with a lifestyle of service. She must also be a lady that is respectful to others. And towards me, she has to be exceptionally supportive and patient since I am work-in-progress. Ha ha…

2. If your partner betrayed you, what will your reaction be?

Devastated. I think I will certainly hide in my “cave” for 1-2 weeks before I can come out and feel normal again to talk to her.

3. What will your dream wedding be like?

In a garden or anywhere outdoors with beautiful flowers and greenery as our backdrop for a touch of simplicity and nature.

4. Which is more blessed, loving someone or being loved by someone?

To be truly blessed, we need to love and be loved. Having one lesser than the other is not exactly blessed.

5. Would you rather be single & rich or married but poor?

Why cannot be married and rich?! Ha ha… But if I only have these two choices then I would choose being married but poor. That’s because I believe life is about the relationships we build around us and not mainly about material possessions we accumulate.

6. If you can have a dream to come true, what would it be?

Being a travelling minister or a global “tent-maker” for the Lord.

7. How do you see yourself in ten years time?

In another country as a “tent-maker” with a business to fund my ministry.

8. Is there anything that has made you unhappy these days?

Status quo; mediocrity; ineffective leadership limited by lack of vision, wisdom and love.

God calls His people who are called by His Name to be the Light of the world; and to shine as His Light is not exactly optional.

However in reality, many of us may have allowed Darkness- the worldly influences and corrupted state of our environment- to overwhelm us to either the point of conformity or to the point of indifference/status quo.

Therefore, Edmund Burke’s statement that “all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing” does hold alot of truth and explains why the Church is weak (my general opinion).

Light versus darkness

In one of my recent private moments with God, I was gently reminded of the power that light had against darkness. And that darkness is only the result of the absence of light.

When there is total darkness, even the faintest of light will breakthrough and be seen instantenously. Light disperses darkness.

The same cannot be said for darkness. Whether there is a dim or brightest of light, no matter how much more darkness there is surrounding it. Darkness can NEVER disperse light. 

Though darkness looks over-powering and hideous, it actually has no direct affect on light. But it can only overshadow light when light fizzles or fades away.

Being the Light of the world

Likewise as Christians, our “dark” or adverse situation can only defeat us or overwhelm us if we choose to fizzle off or fade away to the background. That’s how we hand over victory or the authority to our enemy.

“… Become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life…”

Philippians 2:14-16

With understanding of the power light has against darkness, this gives us the confidence that we can only emerge victorious IF we believe in His word and keeping shining by stand our ground.

As Christians, we can take heart that despite being the minority in the world; in our marketplace; in our community or family; our light will stand out even more and shine even brighter.

Positionally, we are fighting a sure-win battle, but we need to have faith and claim our victory.

I think it is not uncommon to hear stories of self-made men and women; in how they climbed from “rags to riches” or how they overcame the adverse odds to experience success.

Not sure about you, but I do enjoy reading or listening to such life stories as they never fail to inspire me with their deep sense of purpose and determination to achieve the seemingly impossible.

In fact, I also think that each one of us have that similar potential, but the only difference that distinguishes us from these men and women is having that clear and distinct sense of purpose in life.

Knowing our true purpose

It is safe to say that many of us go through life with no real sense of purpose. We are merely “chasing the wind”.

We chase from one event to another; one life-station to another; one trend to another; one product or gadget to another.

However, in my humble opinion (undergirded by my understanding of scriptures and God), our ultimate life purpose is to make God be known with and through our lives as His workmanship or masterpiece.

Which means whatever little or big successes that we strive to achieve and experience, we do it as an act of worship unto God who gives us the ability and the opportunity to do so.

Being God-made, not self-made

I recalled this tortise on a lamp-post story. When we see a tortise up on a lamp-post, we know someone had placed it there. Cos how can a tortise climb up a lamp-post rite?

It has been 8 years since I have committed and surrendered my life to Him. And I can testify that not I, but He who has been re-building my life from the mess I gave to Him. Like that tortise, I know I wouldn’t be where I am today if not for God and I am still “work in progress”.

Besides salvation, I am certain He wants to give me more and work in me even more than I can ever imagine. And I am looking forward to what He is instore ahead.

I pray that in all the successes that come my way, they will speak of me as a God-made man, and not a self-made man. Amen.

Continuing where I had left off…

In late 2000, my eyes was drawn to a recruitment ad which was looking for restaurant servers. I felt led and so I called, to which an interview was arranged.

To my utter surprise, I landed the job with Morton’s of Chicago after the interview. I knew that besides having prior experience in the service industry during my school days, God was orchestrating all these possibilities.

Deciding to take the step of faith and now actually taking those steps was scary, yet amazingly thrilling.

It was good to be walking in God’s plan and will.

Adapting to my new job

Shortly, the reality of my new job sunk in, especially when peers asked me what I was doing.

Telling them where and what I was working was challenging as in a worldy viewpoint, I seemed to have down-graded in my profession. However, from God’s viewpoint I knew that He was upgrading me.

Though I didn’t know fully then why God led me to that new job, but I enjoyed it. As a server, I had to embrace humilty and consequently I found my passion in serving people.

Through this phase, my security and identity in Him was truly instilled.

God knows best

Subsequently after a few months in my new job, God led in my decision to study full-time in a Bible Seminary ran by Hope Singapore Church. That was when I realised how much more of the job was part of God’s plan.

Miraculously, Morton’s allowed me to convert from full-time to a part-time. This not only allowed me to have sustainable income, but enabled me in coping with the demands of my 9-month stint as a seminary student.

God knows best and through Him, I completed the seminary course and awaited for His next step for me.

(To be cont’d…)

Picture taken with NG5A1 caregroup during Hope’s Adult Church Camp at Concorde Hotel @Shah Alam, Malaysia from 5 June to 8 June 2008.

Last week, Barrack Obama finally emerged as the Democratic Presidential Nominee against Hillary Clinton after a gruelling campaign since the beginning of this year.

The final battle now sees Obama squaring off with his Republican counterpart, John McCain for the “hot seat” in being the next US President.

Personally, I am rooting Obama for the next US President as he comes across as a leader who is refreshingly different and truly inspires hope and change that is desperately needed in our arena of politics.  

Politics, a “dirty” business

In the past, I used to think that Christianity and Politics do not and should not mix.

That old school of thought was due to the misconception that politics was a “dirty” business that was only for the greedy and power-hungry people.

But now with a better understanding of His truth, I acknowledge that what I initially thought was not completely correct. And as it is precisely a “dirty” business that the more Christ is needed to penetrate the arena of politics and to clean it up.

Christ in Politics

Christianity does not exist in isolation. Jesus sent us into the world to permeate our society and its culture with His love and truth.

In fact, Christianity affects every part of our lives and it isn’t just something we keep for Sundays. We cannot and should not limit God and what He can do through us.

The Church needs to engage our world by speaking up and be heard on issues about everything from economics to education, from defence to healthcare, and I believe a Christian perspective needs to be voiced out on all of these things.

As His Church, let’s get out of the ghetto, and take part and influence in what’s goes on in our world!

Last Saturday, a miracle happened before my eyes. My friend, Thomas received Jesus as His Lord and Saviour.

Thomas used to be my “big brother” during our days in da gang. So you can imagine my mix feelings of unbelief (in a surreal manner) and joy when he said the sinner’s prayer! Ha ha….

His salvation is indeed a testimony of God’s unwavering love for each one of us especially those who are considered a lost cause by people’s standard.

Thankfully God’s standard is always higher than us, man’s. And did I mention that I had been waiting for this day for the past 8 years?!

Wow… Am I bowled over by the love of God!

Thank God for being merciful in saving him from a world of darkness into His marvelous light!

Hallelujah!

This is a simple testimony to attest of God’s love for each one of us. And that He really speaks.

During one of my sessions with God, the Holy Spirit led me to pray for a particular person. Her name and face flashed across my mind, and so I just prayed over her.

The prayer

I was led to pray for her not to doubt God’s love and faithfulness in her life, and not to give up in her faith in Him.

It was as if God was reassuring her of His love and promises for her through the prayers.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

I believe then, she was going through a tough patch.

God speaks

The next morning, I texted her a message to share with her what God had done and spoken through Jeremiah 29:11 to her. And I left it as that.

It was not after a few days later when I received a text message from her. In her reply, this was what exactly she said…

“Thanks for your prayer…. Remembered I was having lot of bitterness on that night when I about to sleep, doubting God’s promises and confusing am I holding on something that doesn’t exist…. Was shocked in the morning when saw your msg…. Think God really speaks to encourage me through you… Ha ha… Praise the Lord.”

I was pleasantly amazed by God’s love and thankful that I had obeyed the Holy Spirit’s prompting to pray for this person in order to lift her spirits up to continue her walk with God.

Recognising His voice

What if I didn’t hear the voice of God? Or even ignored the prompting of the Holy Spirit?

When He speaks, I want to be able to recognise His voice and obey His lead.

This experience further reinforced the need for me to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. It is when I can hear His instructions for me, then can I only be used by Him.

Since early March I found myself confronted with an unexpected juncture that would indefinitely change the course for my life.

Despite being in the midst of such a tumultuous period in which I would liken to a phase of gestation, I find myself strangely at peace in my mind and heart. And this is only because God has been with me; walking this through with me.

Indeed, this period has been helpful in gaining clarity of His will in my life and purity in my heart.

Through this period, I have also learnt to appreciate God even more in my life. Cos I realised that whenever I need God, He is ALWAYS there and EVER-READY to listen to me.

Wonderful isn’t it, that the King of the universe would spare me His precious time to talk to a “lowly” me?

But yet I can be such an ingrate in most days where I snubbed God with my busyness and placed Him in the waiting list.

What a joke rite?