What do you want to see in your 2011? For certain, old habits and old thinking will not produce new results.
This weekend, come and allow God to give you new revelation to propel you into a whole new level of living your life with power and purpose!
Month December 2010
My Read of the Month:
Title: Entrepreneurial Faith: Launching Bold Initiatives to Expand God’s Kingdom
Author: Walt Kallestad & Kirbyjon Caldwell with Paul Sorensen
Published: 2007
Genre: Business/Entrepreneurship/Leadership
Ratings: 
Caldwell and Kallestad bring considerable credibility to this subject of entrepreneurial faith with their personal experiences and achievements in birthing businesses outside their churches to serve their communities.
Both authors agree that today’s role of the Church has become too narrowly defined and lived out that churches have lost touch with their communities.
According to them, most churches merely focus on organisational maintenance that is targeted at meeting the needs of their congregation. But none or little is prioritised to those people outside the church.
With the objective to transcend the status quo in ministry and to encourage kingdom-minded entrepreneurship, this book serves as an excellent manual for budding entrepreneurs who see themselves as missionaries or “tent-makers” in their community.
To them, true entrepreneurs are change agents that are not primarily in pursuit of money, but using his or her skills and expertise and knowledge and passion to make life better for others.
These group of people embody what they defined as entrepreneurial faith, one that launches the love and power of God out from the four walls of the church; taking the gospel out of the church and to the people.
Albeit this book covers a good range of topics and provides practical advice on being an entrepreneur, but it does not present any new revelation about entrepreneurship or faith. More theological depth for support would be an improvement to this book.
Who should read it: For budding social entrepreneurs and church leaders.
This year’s Christmas
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this year’s Christmas.
Besides the opportunity to present gifts to my family and friends, it was also a time of expressing appreciation for their involvement in my life.
This year was also special because I spent it with my wife. Our first Christmas together.
However, nothing excites me more than knowing that members of my family or friends leaping in faith to embrace Christ into their lives.
This year, my sister-in-law finally received Christ and including my eldest niece. This has been an answered prayer not only for me, but for my brother too.
Much credit to the Children Church ministry of City Harvest Church. Their volunteers have been relentless and faithful in caring for my nieces for the past year.
I believe their love and service had greatly influenced my brother and his wife into attending church regularly and inching closer to God.
Beautiful are the souls of those who avail themselves to be vessels of God’s love. And all for His glory!
My best Christmas was…
My best Christmas was ironically my saddest. This took place ten years ago.
I remembered being overly enthusiastic about inviting my close group of friends to the Christmas service.
After inviting most of them, my final list had at least 20 of them. However, on the actual day none of them showed up. Not one.
I was utterly disappointed and devastated. During that Christmas service, I wept.
But right there, God revealed His heart to me. I was also feeling His disappointment and devastation. And I got a glimpse of His amazing love for us.
He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
John 1:10-11
Despite our hostility and shortcomings, God never condemns us nor does He gives up on us. He just keeps on loving us into His kingdom.
I also understood better that the rejection that I faced was not directed at me, but at Jesus (c.f. Matthew 10:40). And like Jesus, I should keep on loving with no strings attached.
That Christmas, it was my best because God aligned my heart with His. That’s what made it special and memorable.
God is love.
Blessed Christmas 2010
Picture taken during a candlelight service by City Harvest Church on 18 December 2010.
Looking beyond our circumstances
So we’re not giving up. How could we!
Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace.
These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye.
The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (The Message)
Winners don’t quit
Meet Takalah (means “never or cannot lose” in Malay). This is one person you got to know and respect. I had the privilege to meet him during the last excruciating 10km of the marathon.
Please do read his amazing story here>>>.
Running with God
Last Sunday, I finally did my first FULL marathon. And I barely completed it!
My participation in the Standard Chartered Marathon has somewhat evolved into a personal annual year-end pilgrimage.
And the 42km stretch this year was definitely taking my ‘sufferings’ to whole new level. Haha…
Reason for running
To be honest, I dislike running and was (and still am) never good at it. I only enjoy it because it has been an activity that draws me closer to God.
I guess I love the challenge it puts on my physical and mental limitations, and for Him to takeover.
And I also look forward to the guiding words and principles He dishes out while I run. Believe it or not, He speaks to me during my runs.
Normally, He shares with me lessons from the experiences of the passing year that would make a difference in the next approaching year.
Lessons from running
This year while running my marathon, I was reminded that “it is not how you start (the race) that matters, but it is how you end that really matters”.
Besides serving as an encouragement during my run, these words spoke into my current phase of my spiritual journey.
It re-focused my attention towards the end goal and not to dwell on the present circumstances.
Along the way all of us will meet with difficulties and disappointments, but we need to “keep on going” (being faithful) towards finishing the race gloriously for Him.
That is what really matters- to obey Him (His will and call) and trust Him (in His word) till the end. So let’s keep running with God.
Andrew: Inside & Insights 
