Category Extra Thoughts

Just some of my many thoughts…

Don’t Forget to Visit Your Pit-stop

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With all the media buzz surrounding the first Singapore’s Formula One (F1) race that is slated to roll next year, the whole world will be anticipating for this premier event.

Not only will it be the first F1 race to be held in Singapore, this would also be the first time these sophisticated race cars will be pitting each other in the night.

F1 Grand Prix Cars 

F1The BeautifulThe highlight of the F1 race are indefinitely those beautiful fast cars.

But though some might argue that the entourage of beautiful girls are also the main draw. Ha ha…

Back to the cars. These cars are built with cutting edge technology that enables them to produce an unprecedented combination of outright speed and quickness for the drivers.

According to Wikipedia, “every F1 car on the grid is capable of going from 0 to 160 km/h and back to 0 in less than five seconds.”

The pit-stop in a race

In a race, as fast as these cars may be, the pit-stop plays an important factor in winning a race. Cars need to visit the pit-stop primarily for refuelling and changeing of tires.

Without a proper pit-stop strategy where planned pit-stops are scheduled during the race- taking into account factors such as rate of fuel consumption, weight of fuel, cornering speed with each available tire compound, rate of tire wear, the effect of tire wear on cornering speed, the length of pit road and the track’s pit road speed limit, and even expected changes in weather and lighting conditions- this would greatly affect the chances of winning a race.

Imagine if the tires wears off or the shortage of fuel while driving, the car might skid of the track or get cut off from the race.

Having a pit-stop strategy

The pitstopLike these cars in the F1 Race, we too are in a race called LIFE with our walk with God. Like these cars, we too go pretty much at a fast pace in order to reach our goals and excel or maybe to meet the demands and expectations.

However, do we adopt a “pit-stop strategy” in our own lives?

If we’re feeling drained and tired or bogged down with unforgiveness or hurts, don’t forget to visit your “pit-stop” for His refreshment for our souls and alignment of our hearts with His will.  

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest~ Matthew 11:28

A planned “pit-stop strategy” might just what we need to keep on track and to keep us going till the end of the race.

God is our sustenance. 

Living Above Reproach for Christ

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With the spate of scandals that we see coming to light everyday in the media, we can observe that the world is paying close attention to accountability of organisations and their leaders.

Nonetheless, we know that accountability is not something that is easy to do or adopted even though we see its importance.

As for me, being brought up in a family background where my parents were mostly not around and at work, I was pretty much left to do what I wanted to do as I liked. And many of those things I did then, landed me into trouble.

At 14, I gained even more independence after my parents divorced, so I can say I grew up with almost no understanding or practise of accountability.

Me, I and myself 

AccountabilityI was a lone ranger. I did what I like and I did it my way whenever I feel like it. And the result was my chequered past.

Initially when I committed my life to Christ and the Church, I really detested having to be accountable as I felt a loss of freedom to do what I wanted to do. Being accountable seemed to create alot of “red tapes” for me to just get something done.

But eventually I discovered how impatient and impulsive I was. And being biblically accountable to God and His appointed leaders, actually helped me to be rational and not reactive in my circumstances.

This helped me practise in trusting God more for His counsel rather than doing what I thought/felt was right but regretting my actions thereafter.

Therefore, I learnt that true freedom wasn’t about being able to do as I please but in fact, true freedom is being able to do what is right even at a wrong time.

Us, we and ourselves

Gradually as I grew closer with God, I realised that my every action actually affected not only those around me, but also God. For instance when I sinned deliberately, God would be grieved or hurt cos I disobeyed. But the beauty was that He still loved me, and not condemned me.

Knowing this truth and experiencing His grace, it compelled me to do what would only please God. It was no longer just about me, I and myself.

The Body inter-connectedNow it was about us, we and ourselves. My motivation is to see God smile. And for Him to wear an even bigger smile is to see His Church united in love, trust and in truth.

As we grow older, I think it gets increasingly more difficult to be accountable. This is because we will inherently think we are matured/wise/smart/experienced enough to handle things ourselves without the counsel of other people or even God. And this is very much linked to our prideful nature.

The accountability factor 

I’ve learnt that being accountable is actually being wise and not foolish.

Not only do we avoid unnecessary trouble that will destroy what we might have built over the years with our momentarily slip-ups, we are also able to be true to ourselves and live a life of integrity without needing to be hiding or ashamed.

Though I am not perfect, I am glad and relieve that I can be truthful about it to God and others whom I trust so that I can be real and be covered of my “blind spots” and areas of weakness.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me- Galatians 2:20

Avoiding the fall from grace

Just take at what we read from the news: a primary school teacher who’s married with children got caught shoplifting; politicians and pastors of churches caught in sex scandals; T T Durai’s fall from glory over the NKF fiasco; corporate leaders caught embezzling.

These are all real life cases from which we can learn and avoid repeating their mistakes in our own lives. Therefore, being accountable pays off.

And more importantly, with the world watching us Christians’ every word and action, it is imperative that we (leaders or followers) live above reproach so that the good news can be spread effectively for Jesus.

The Emerging Threats to The Church

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Lately, there has been much controversy over the upcoming movie- The Golden Compass, based on a fantasy novel by Philip Pullman who is a self-declared athesist.

He is well-quoted for his great disdain of God and the Christian faith. In support of his contention, Pullman was quoted in one interview saying: “I’m trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief.”

The truth always stands

The Golden CompassPersonally, I do not have much comments on either Pullman’s views on God or his movie as everyone is entitled to his/her views just as much we would expect others to respect our Christian views or beliefs.

End of the day, it is not about who’s right or wrong (though we believe in one Truth) but it is about God and winning people over to Him by washing people’s feet and not “bible bashing”, just as Jesus did.

Without a doubt, I am sure all this controversy is generated just to create buzz for the movie in order to hit box office numbers.

In any case, this movie actually works for the Christian faith as it creates opportunity for us to share what is truth to the curious minds.

The real emerging threats

Just when we think that the “enemies” that threathens the Christian faith are from the outside, but in true fact, the real threats are from within.

I have observed that today’s contemporary Church faces two serious “threats” that are emerging and eroding the core foundation of the Christian faith. They are the acceptance of homosexuality as biblically right and the prosperity gospel.

(1) Homosexuality:

The recent attempts of re-appealing against 377A were clear indications of what the Church can expect in the near future.

If you didn’t follow the news, you may view an Al Jazeera TV news report here>>> 

Already in some parts of the world, same-sex marriages are accepted and made legal. And slowly and surely, homosexuality gaining more entry into the Church.

Some time ago, Tim Flemming published a new bible which adds a new law that embraces homosexuality as biblical. And it is made available for free download.

In Singapore, Free Community Church openly declares its acceptance of homosexuality as shown below:

The FREE COMMUNITY CHURCH affirms that all individuals are persons of sacred worth and created in God’s image. Given the discrimination that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) persons still face in society, our Church affirms that same-sex relationships are consistent with Christian faith and teachings, when lived out in accord with the love commandments of Jesus. Instead, it is discrimination based on sexual orientation and homophobia that are inconsistent with Christian teachings. We welcome all LGBT persons to our family.

Thankfully, this remains marginalised from mainstream Christianity as it is outright clear that homosexuality is unbiblical.

And the biblical stand remains: Hate the sin and love the sinner.

(2) Prosperity Gospel:

Prosperity GospelHowever the same can’t be said of the prosperity gospel as it seeps mainly into our mainstream, which is even more dangerous as it invades the minds and hearts of our majority.

Moreover so, the message is subtle and is packaged in such a rational manner that it is not that easy to detect what is exactly unbiblical.

From my previous entry on this topic, today’s preachers proclaim that poverty is a curse, and that Jesus came to break that curse with support of selected scriptures to convince their audiences.

Firstly, poverty is not a curse. Poverty is the consequence of the hoarding of wealth in the world from the poor. It is NOT a curse.

If we recall Job from the bible, he did not spiral down towards poverty because he was cursed. In fact, he was found to be righteous in the eyes of God and his poverty and poor health were actually tests laid before him. And of cos, Job passed those tests with flying colours.

What about Mother Theresa? Was she cursed? I think not. She chose to be poor, but yet she was equally effective in serving the poor.

Secondly, Jesus did not come to free people from poverty. If He did, He would have been born in a tycoon family and be a rich man’s son. But instead, he was a carpenter. And in one of satan’s temptations, He would have accepted satan’s offer for all the world’s riches and gave it to us if that was really true. But He didn’t.

Jesus came and went to the cross. His purpose was to redeem us from our sins not poverty; that we may have eternal life.

Keep watch, be on our guard

With our government always fixed on economic prosperity with our nation’s GDP, and the ocassional challenge for us to work hard and gain financial security, this message of prosperity taps on our” 5 Cs” culture. And if a preacher comes along and says, “God wants you to be rich,” is quite appealing.

Even most multi-level marketing (MLM) organisations practise this. Their leaders would motivate their team to strike it rich first in order to gain financial freedom. And with that freedom, you can help others with your money by donating to the poor and build schools or hospitals etc…

As most of us develop our Christianity along the lines of our nature and not along the lines of God’s nature, therefore we need to be watchful not to follow the drum beat of our culture about the goodness of personal wealth and material prosperity.

Instead, we need to be rooted in His word and advocate a theology of stewardship which puts other people’s necessities before our own luxuries. We also need to simplify our lifestyles and get a clear grasp on God’s priorities including His special concern for the poor and destitute of the world.

Even if we aim to succeed in the marketplace, it should be aligned with a motivation of wanting to be an influence to others for God, and not for worldy wealth.

If our position of influence provides access to wealth, then it is God who blesses us in order that we can be a blessing to others for His kingdom and not for self-indulgence.

God Seeks Men, not Men Seeks God

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It is not uncommon to hear comments from others including Christians saying why Christians are so “aggressive” in getting people to convert, or why for that matter should Christians evangelise?

And to uncover the answers, we only have to look to God and understand His heart.

God from the beginning

God since the very beginning has been the initiator of the God-man relationship. Even when the first man fell from perfectation, God sought him from the bushes.

In bringing about His redeemtive plan for man, He had called the father of Israel, Abraham who eventually left his country to prepare the way for his descendents.

When the Israelites were held in slavery in Egypt, He freed them by appointing Moses, but not before appearing before him with the burning bush.

For us to know God is His idea and His original plan, not ours.

Jesus Christ- God seeking men

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Luke 19:10

The birth of Jesus Christ is the epitome of God’s love seeking to save us man. Jesus came from heaven and made Himself a man in order that He could show us The Way, The Truth and The Life.

Christianity is unique among all other religions in this world as it consists of not men seeking God, but God seeking men.

Therefore, Christians ought to be His rightful ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal to men through them.

God Matters Most

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It was really ‘cool’ to read that Indonesia President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono recently launched his own music album- Rinduku Pada Mu (My Longing for You).

Furthermore, the album which contains 10 songs are mainly ballads based on peace, love and friendship.

Rinduku Pada Mu (My Longing for You)He was quoted saying that “all the songs in this album were written in between breaks in my hectic schedule as I pondered about life and about the problems that this country is facing.”

Though I have not listened to his album, I am very encouraged how he has used his marketplace’s position and influence as a politician  to impart something of God to minister to his nation.

My Longing for You 

An interesting fact was the title track, Rinduku Pada Mu, which he wrote in April last year, was written just two years after he became president. At that time, he had to deal with a string of natural disasters in the country.

Another song which he wrote in Sydney after attending the Apec meeting last month is Mengarungi Keberkahan Tuhan (Seeking God’s Blessings), which was his prayer to the Almighty for divine guidance.

What matters most…

“It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.”

Phillipians 1:15-18 (NIV)

Though I read that critics have scoffed his album as PR tactics towards his presidential election campaign for 2009, but I still think it doesn’t matter what’s his real agenda is. Cos what’s more importantly is that God’s Name is communicated.

Turning Adversity into An Opportunity

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Lately, I have been reading the book of Daniel as part of my daily bible reading log. And this book has got me glued right from the first chapter!

I am really discovering and learning alot of biblical insights and principles from this book in respect to being an effective Christian in a marketplace.

Being a Marketplace Minister 

Daniel in the lions denDespite being immersed in Babylonian culture (worldy marketplace)  and hired by King Nebuchadnezzar (our boss) as his royal servants, Daniel and his three Jewish comrades (Christians) never forgot their identity as God’s chosen people.

They never once did forsake God and did what the Babylonians did. In fact, they held on to God with their dear lives even in the face of death.

One coherent principle that I have observed so far has been how Daniel and friends displayed great loyalty and trust in God in the face of extreme adversity.

Standing Firm in the Face of Adversity 

When faced with extreme adversity, it is normal to find a way to escape or in our terms siam . But not these guys.

They saw adversities as opportunities to exercise their faith and reliance on God. And the assuring results was God’s faithfulness seen thru their deliverance from their adverse situations.

Not only were these opportunities to exercise faith and rely on God, these were vital moments where God’s glory and power were showcased for the king and babylonians to be in awe. It was through their lives with their unwavering obedience and trust in Him that God was glorified and respected by the Babylonians.

Making God Stand Out in the Marketplace

When I read this, I realised the “opportunities” that are lying before me at my very workplace.  Initially, my reaction was to find a way out from the unpleasant situation in my organisation which I blogged in my previous entry. But now I see what I can and should do instead.

I pray that like Daniel and his comrades, I will use this situation as an opportunity to exercise my faith and reliance on God; not using my own rationale and experience to strategise.

My prayer is that through this, where the majority of others are being negative and “escaping”, my response to this adversity would be different. That way my God who is me will stand out from the rest and be noticed.

That’s how God can be and is glorified.

Being Salt and Light in the (Cyber) World

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To further illustrate from my old entry on how technology or the Internet has become so much part of lives in terms of societal, economical and political, last Friday there was a quirky report by the Straits Times that a Singaporean, Kelvin Lim was one of the chosen top 20 candidates vying for a $10,000 US blog scholarship with his blog.

Can you believe that?! Blogging also can earn scholarship leh???

Winning People through the Internet 

But that is exactly how the Internet and with the likes of blogging or web blogs have been recognised as being a powerful tool to reach, impact and influence to a global audience with low cost (even free) and best of all, no gatekeepers.

In the US where the Presidential campaign is currently running, candidates Hillary Clinton, Stephen Colbert and Senator Barack Obama are quick to captilise on the Internet media outlets such as blogs, YouTube, online forums and social networking sites like Facebook to win voters.

On Facebook, approximately 330,000 people have joined the “Obama 2008” feature. And of those supporters, nearly 330 people are daily contributors to the Obama section of Facebook, adding pictures and quotes and participating in online discussions.

The Cyber World: An Extension of Our Real World

With this understanding in how people are proliferating the Cyber world, I believe we (Christians) should and must stay relevant with these changes around us and to capitalise on the Internet as a powerful tool to reach, impact and influence.

What if the Church is able to engage people effectively in the way these politicians do.

Wouldn’t that be awesome?

We need to take the pulpit out of the four walls of the church and into the world.

Shining In the (Cyber) World 

Just as Jesus taught us to be the Salt and Light of the world, similarly we must also be the Salt and Light in the Cyber world. Where there is people to be won, Jesus would be the first to be among them.

The consequences of us not entering and engaging in the Cyber world  would lead to the imminence control by “evil and darkness” who will distract, deceive and destroy people from knowing the Truth with lies and deceitfulness.

Furthermore, just as we (His Church) strive to be consistent in living out Scripture in our real world, we must and should also do likewise in the Cyber world especially in this Digital Age where it is very much intertwined with the real world.

Nonetheless, the dangers of temptations are just as real in the Cyber world as it is in the real world. Therefore, be on guard and alert that we might not fall trapped into sin in the Cyber world.

The Increasing Power of The Internet

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Since the introduction of the worldwide web on 26 February 1991 by Mr Tim Berners-Lee,  the internet has grown phenomenally and has greatly flattened our world. And almost unawaringly, the internet has become so intertwined with our real world.

Blogs are no longer kid’s play

According to blog trackers Technorati, the blogosphere is growing at a pace of 1.4 weblog created every second. In their State of Blogosphere report, it said the number of blogs it was tracking now stood at more than 70 million blogs with about 120,000 new weblogs being created worldwide each day!!

If you think these blogs are merely kid’s play, you are sorely mistaken. One should never under-estimate the influence these blogs and websites have.

Myanmar exposed

Taking the recent Myanmar’s protests for an example, what actually led to the exposure of the Junta’s heavy-hand tactics for the world to see has everything to do with the Internet through a few popoular blogs in Myanmar. The Junta in attempts to stop the world from seeing and hearing the pro-democracy protests cut public access to the Internet. But it was the case of a little too late.

The difference with the last major uprising in 1988 then, had as many as 3,000 people being killed by the soldiers’ opened fire, but it took days for the news- let alone photos or video- to emerge.

However, a leaked video clip of General Than Shwe’s daughter’s wedding which was circulated and uploaded on Youtube allowed the whole world to have a glimpse of the lavish lifestyles enjoyed by the generals.

This exclusive video showed the bride draped in diamonds and other expensive jewels and gifts which was said to be worth US$50 million. This expose was one of the reasons which sparked the people to hit the streets.

What can we expect next

With technology- the Internet playing a crucial role in putting Myanmar on a global spotlight. This has evidently proved the increasing power of the Internet in today’s context.

This is good news for citizen-journalism, but at the same time we should expect more governments and organisations paying more closer attention on any foresee-able threats from blogs or websites that may caused “unrest”.

Knowing well how pro-active our government is, I would not be surprise that they are taking some lessons from this Myanmar’s episode.  So I would be expecting them releasing new “improved” cyberspace policies and regulations soon.

Be An Agent of CHANGE

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Watch this stirring clip!

As a saying goes… “The only constant is CHANGE; we need to change ourselves, in order to change this world”

The question that now begs to be answered by us: Are we willing to be that agent of CHANGE?

Changing The World

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Last Sunday I watched Evan Almighty. I was expecting a cheesy and lame movie, but instead I found the movie a good watch and value-for-my money!

It was particularly moving to watch the relationship between “God” and Evan. I think the producer did well in portraying God as one that is personal.

What I was reminded…

Many of a times we (like myself) want to do great things for God like changing the world by building His Church or extending His kingdom or running for office or doing humanitarian works. 

And all these by themselves isn’t wrong, but it becomes warped when we want to determine and persist the way we want to achieve it when we say it is for God.

Like Evan Baxter who ran for Congress office, he saw his politician position as the means to change the world. But after a prayer, God re-directed him to His way in changing the world- by building an ark (!?).

What I have learnt…

If I want to change the world for God, I have to do it His way (and not my way). Even if His way seems foolish at the price of losing popularity or status, I will have choose to obey Him all the way too.