Category Adventures in HCMC

A rainbow from God

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After 4 years in Vietnam, God called me back to Singapore for His next assignment in Singapore. And on my flight back, God gave me a message through a rainbow.

Rainbow 1.jpgAs the plane was in mid air right after take off, I spotted a rainbow (above pic). I thought that was a miracle sighting since its in mid air. I was quite happy to see that although it was a faint glimpse of a rainbow.

Rainbow 2.jpgBut as the plane went higher, I realised what I had seen earlier was just the beginning of the rainbow. In next scenes (above and below pics), I saw the whole arc of the rainbow with full spectrum of colours. It was beautiful!

Rainbow 3.jpgThis was what God impressed upon my heart with what He showed me:

1. He is a covenant keeping God.

He will keep His promise to see Vietnam saved cos He loves His people. That’s why He gave us Jesus as the atonement. So what He started in our church community in Saigon, He will see it to completion. Our group is part of His grand purpose to reach the lost and disciple this nation.

Personally, it was an assurance and reminder that God is in control and He is leading our group with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

2. The best is yet to come!

Like how I thought my first glimpse of the rainbow which was only the first part was wonderful. And I was quite happy about that but God showed me more than I had expected and beyond.

Similarly, I might think that the first 3 years as a community was the best thing that happened to us. But God is saying that this is just the beginning, we aren’t seen nothing yet.

If we keep trusting in Him and stay on this journey of faith with Him, He will show us even greater things and the full spectrum of what He had planted in this community.

In other words, God has great plans for each of us and for our community. This is just the start of experiencing His love and abundance that will be revealed more to us as we trust in Him!

Rainbow 4.jpgI don’t usually sit at the window seat. But I chose the seat this time as I was returning. So to see this is significant and to have the rainbow over Saigon is even more significant.

God is good!

Living for the Gospel of His kingdom

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image

This is the exact spot where God revealed to me His vision and Heart for this land as I was prayer walking through the city of Saigon.

It was here that He first showed me how much He loved these people and His plan to lead them out of their spiritual ‘wilderness’.

I was deeply moved and was drawn to play a part in His redemptive plan for Viet Nam. I responded to Him with this prayer: “If you want me here, here I am, send me. I am willing.” 

That was a decade ago when I first visited Saigon for a short missions trip. Subsequently, I continued to make yearly similar short trips to Viet Nam.

I did not know when or how God was going to send me. But I believed He would, and faithfully prepared myself while I waited.

God enlarging my vision

Later in 2008, God re-directed my steps and also challenged my traditional worldview on missions. He expanded my vision and understanding of Him, the Church, and His Kingdom.

God showed me how I could be relevant and equally effective (if not more) by partnering with the Holy Spirit through the marketplace to engage the culture wherever I’m planted in demonstrating His love and power, just as Jesus did during His earthly ministry adopting a ‘tentmaker’ model.

By this, I do not mean that we jump into ANY job that we can get our hands on to secure our livelihood and residency in that country as a ‘tentmaker’. That job or business should be one that I’m designed for in fulfilling His purpose in my life as well.

This is because our secular work is an equally sacred ministry assigned by Him. And it’s His desire for us to enjoy our work, and not endure. Because when we enjoy what we do, we excel. And when we excel, He is glorified.

Secular work is not a means for church ministry. Our secular work is ministry. It is where we can add value and make a positive impact by representing His kingdom and being an influence towards advancing His kingdom.

That is the kind of gospel that needs to be planted. The gospel of His kingdom and not just salvation.

God answering my question

Fast forward to today, I have now lived in Viet Nam for the past 4 years after He sent me by orchestrating a job opportunity that required me to be based in Saigon. Indeed, He is faithful.

Since arriving in Viet Nam, there hasn’t been a day I have not asked God this: “God now that you’ve sent me, what do you want me to do?” 

Ironically, I have finally discovered the true answer as I’m getting ready to return back to Singapore for my next God-assignment. That answer I have now understood is to prepare me for what awaits me ahead.

On hindsight, if God had answered me much earlier, I probably might have questioned the rationale of His directive for me to come to Vietnam.

Why waste time to take me to Viet Nam and bring me back? Huh… come here for such a short time and leave after establishing life here? 

But God being God, He knows best. His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts higher than ours. May His kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Thankful for my wife

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IMG-20150511-WA0002Since late last year, God revealed to me that my season in Viet Nam would be coming to an end. And that the next chapter is to return to Singapore. Hence, I had made plans to return to Singapore next year.

However, God had other plans. He orchestrated a job opportunity for me that will allow me to return to Singapore much earlier as I would have anticipated. In addition, the new company was willing to wait out my 3-month resignation notice!

Thus, next month I would be returning to Singapore to start my new job.

This new development also prompted my wife to look for her job in Singapore. And recently she received an offer to a job that would further her career as a professional counsellor. She begins her new job in a week’s time! Praise God!

Thus far, it has been amazing to see how God is working ALL things for us to return to Singapore with such ease! Too much ease that we cannot deny we are in the will of God. So that is assuring that we know we walking with Him. And that’s all that truly matters to me- that we are following Jesus!

I’m also thankful to God for my wife.

Without her love and support, I would not be in Viet Nam for the last 4 years. My wife demonstrated her love for me when she resigned from her dream job which she was then a school counsellor. And she did that so that I could pursue the vision and purpose of God for my life!

I must admit I have often took her for granted and her sacrifice. That’s why I’m so delighted that she now has this new job where she can continue to pursue her vision and purpose of God in her life from where she had left off.

In our next season, I believe it is now my turn to rally behind her and to see to it that my wife becomes all that she is destined to be and achieved in Christ!

 

The Boat by Nam Lee

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The Boat is written by Nam Lee who is a Vietnamese-born Australian writer. This book comprises a collection of short stories of escape journeys from Vietnam after the reunification happened in 1975.

It is difficult to fully understand what the war or the reunification meant to the people who were directly involved in that historical episode. But here’s one painful and turbulent experience recounted for us.

Watch the interactive graphic short story here>>>

Viet Nam’s 40th year of reunification

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Today, Viet Nam celebrates her 40th year of reunification- the day that South Vietnam fell under the Northern regime and re-uniting the country under one communist rule after 21 years of separation.

I believe this 40-year milestone as a re-united nation is significant for Viet Nam from a spiritual perspective.

Learning from Israel

Israel spent 40 years in the wilderness after being released from Egyptian slavery. That Israel led by Moses could have entered the Promised Land much sooner but due to their stiff-necked and disobedience, God withheld that from happening.

Before, that’s how I saw it. I interpreted how God was using that period of time in the wilderness to discipline the Israelites and in a sense punishing them for their disobedience. Although this is somewhat true, but I discovered later that what I saw was just a glimpse of who God is and His intentions.

Looking at this episode with New Testament lens, I discovered how God’s love and grace was in abundance towards the Israelites. I saw God’s real intention for withholding the Promised Land from the Moses-generation Israelites was because He was protecting them from total annihilation.

God knew that the enemies that were residing on the Promised Land would have easily defeated the Israelites if He had led them to cross over. Those Israelites then were not ready to do battle with external enemies as they were battling with their inner enemies.

Hence, it is truly grace that kept them from entering the Promised Land.

God’s grace for Viet Nam

Similarly, God loves Viet Nam and His grace has protected and guided this nation this past 40 years in spite of her disobedience and weaknesses.

Although Viet Nam has flourished materially, but instead of improving lives the reverse is more true with other social issues such as divorces, youth delinquency, vices and etc… arising as quick to destroy its society and social fabric.

Interestingly, Israel then even in the wilderness was also materially better off. They left Egypt with their gold and silver loot surrendered by the Egyptians. However sadly, this resulted to idolatry, self-gratification and self-vanity of misplacing their confidence and trust on their own efforts.

Likewise, the past 40 years of reunification for Viet Nam has been a journey of ‘wilderness’ and battling of their inner enemies of finding their identity as a unified country and people.

Without identity, one can never truly grow and achieve significance. At best, drift along and achieve mere survival. Because one’s vision, purpose, values and confidence stem from one’s identity. And discovering one identity ultimately leads one to know God as the Creator and Source.

Hence, the past 40 years for Viet Nam has been a bumpy ride of finding her identity towards her journey with God. All these trials, necessary in preparation for the ‘crossing over’.

The future for Viet Nam

Like Israel, with their new found freedom, the Moses-generation or pioneering generation of Viet Nam carried many emotional and spiritual ‘baggages’ that had prevented them to truly know God and follow Him towards progressing as a nation.

However, His love and promises to this nation remain unchanged!

In His great grand scheme of things, God has prepared and is raising up a new generation of believers with the ‘Joshua’ mantle and mettle to lead His people to truly know God and follow Him.

The future of this nation now hinges on this Joshua-generation of Viet Nam to cross over into the ‘Promised Land’ and lead the progress of this country into her destiny.

And to see this happening, we need to forget (but learn the lessons from) the past and focus on investing in this Joshua-generation for the ‘Promised’ future!

Today, I’m excited for what lies ahead for Viet Nam. And I’m believing that the next 40 years will be a glorious one with Viet Nam saved, transformed and prosperous for His glory. Will you believe with me?

If you do, please pray with me and together let’s reach to love and disciple the Joshua-generation around you!

Awesome 30 + Five!

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ImageNo, I’m not celebrating my 68th birthday. The numbers represent by birth date! Haha…

I’m now 30 + FIVE years old. And I feel awesome crossing my 35th year on planet earth as a child of God. Why?

These are the reasons…

Fruitful
Grateful for all the relationships that God has place in my life especially the new friends I have made in Vietnam.

In particular, I’m blessed by those whom I consider my spiritual family. These bunch of fabulous people in Vietnam have so much potential in Christ.

I only pray that they know and experience the love of Christ more and more with each new day! I love them with the love of Christ.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” ~ Galatians 6:9-10

Interesting
Since being saved by Christ, my life has been exceptionally interesting. From a life lived aimlessly, and to one that is now lived purposefully!

For certain, I never for once thought that I would be working in Vietnam. Let alone imagine that it would be possible. Moreover with my wife in tow!

However, God is always full of awesome surprises and promises for His children. And I’m grateful that I now not only have a destiny, but also have the ability to live out that destiny in God.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” ~ Ephesians 3:20

Victorious
It is God who has given me the victories in overcoming all the obstacles and challenges in my life to be where I am today! I’m grateful that He is with me in all my valleys and mountain-tops experiences; from a delinquent who others say got no hope to a person who can now inspire others with hope.

Although it can be said that we can also be overcomers without God, but we would not be able to truly emerge stronger or fully realized our potential towards our true destiny without God.

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” ~ Romans 8:37

Exciting
I’m excited about the next couple of years that God is leading me towards! Actually I’m more of a laidback and not so ambitious kind of person. But it is Jesus in me that motivates me to do great things for Him by instilling a fiery passion to live for others.

“Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.” ~ 1 Corinthians 9:19

Lately, He gave me a new faith goal. And that is to be a business owner. Seriously, I do not know how this will happen. But I will just obey and follow since He has already taken me this far.

I’m confident in His grace that is able to stretch me further in becoming a greater positive impact to as many people as possible!

5 Things I never noticed about Singapore till I moved away

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This is long overdue. I had crossed my first year in Vietnam in three months ago. And I was blessed to mark the first year by contributing an article to City News. 

In Singapore, God has richly blessed us that we can be a blessing to those around us and beyond our borders.

This is evident with the countless overseas missions that our local churches embark on annually.

This not only speaks of our readiness to spread the love and good news, but it attests to the rich resources which God has provided His people in Singapore.

Hence, we ought not only to be thankful that we are home to many strong churches, but as a small nation, we can serve as a blessing to those around us.

Read the full article here>>>

Getting started

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So excited! This book came air couriered to my office this afternoon.

What is this? This is a teacher’s handbook from my home church.

It is an aid for conducting bible studies for the purpose of empowering and equipping Christians in walking fundamentally right with God.

I’m excited because it is my prayer and desire to encourage and help others in getting started proper and strong in their faith.

And that can only be achieved with revelation and understanding of His word. Right believing will lead to right living.

I’m equally excited too because this also signals for me in getting started the work He has prepared for me ever since He called me.

God is good!

A ‘tan gu gu’ moment…

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Unbelievably, my wife and I got to meet Singapore’s newly elected president, Tony Tan and his wife, Mary Chee during his visit to Vietnam in April.

Not only did we exchange a firm handshake, but we also had a considerably lengthy conversation before posing for the camera. I think if I was in Singapore, I can ‘tan gu gu’ (wait long long in dialect) to meet him. But I did, in Vietnam. Haha…

Easter in Saigon

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Sharing at ICF@HCMThis year’s Easter I had the privilege to share my life story at the International Christian Fellowship of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Like all my previous sharing, the focal point of my testimony has always been about my experience with God’s love and His transforming power.

However, every sharing takes on a different dimension. And I’ve noticed that my testimony (and  including myself) has been undergoing a ‘pruning’ process.

In fact, I suspect God is preparing me for greater things ahead especially with my project that I’m embarking on.

Curious to know what it is? Stay tuned then. Haha…

In the meantime, here’s wishing everyone a Happy Easter! Christ is risen!

He IS the life and the resurrection! And I’m going to live my life with His power!