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Category His & My Story
Spirtual insights and my daily reflections with God in my life. My life is now a shared journey with God. My story is His story.
Penetrating the Media Space
Since 2006, I chanced upon this gift of writing incidentally through blogging and my work.
It is through this passion and flair for writing that I discovered more of His calling for me- to be salt and light in the media space or arena.
Writing for His glory
At that time, I really did not know how I was to get in. I just prayed and took each step by faith as it unfolded with each day. And of cos, writing hard each day too.
Though after two years I know that I’m still very far from completing His vision, but I’m amazed at how He has built the in-roads for me to penetrate into the media space as a writer.
It has to be God’s leading as these in-roads appeared out of nowhere for me. It was certainly not due to my own capabilities.
The 90/10 strategy
Besides it being a ministry, I am beginning to see how God is leading me towards this as possible career in the near future.
In spite of the general not-so-good views of writing as not being a lucrative or ideal job in Singapore, I think otherwise.
Based on the 90/10 rule explained by Robert Kiyosaki, I see more opportunities for me to enter into the 10 per cent as a writer. I foresee that this path will be further backed with the emerging trends of the Internet.
We only need to look to the US to see what Singapore’s development will be like in the coming years. And the Internet will be play a massive role in shaping that future.
Being Grass-ROOTED to the Ground
Picture taken during the official opening of the Clementi Heights Resident’s Committee graced by MP Arthur Fong on 26 October 2008.
Some Insights for a Marketplace Minister
Recently, I was re-visiting the book of Daniel and was led to some interesting insights from the marketplace standpoint.
In chapter 1 from verses 3 to 4, it mentioned that the king ordered to bring in some Israelites to serve in his palace and these were the pre-requisites: “young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand.”
Lesson One- Outward appearance matters
I believe in this list of pre-requisites that the king was looking are similar qualities that our employers or bosses look for in promoting us or entrusting us for higher tasks.
Likewise, whether we are employees or not but as business-owners, we should strive to have this qualities as this would lead us towards upward mobility for higher influence.
Notably, physical appearance was highlighted by God citing that Daniel was handsome. Much to conventional christian thinking where heart is more important than looks, this provides an added perspective that looks do matter. If it didn’t, it would not have been included in this passage.
This means that as marketplace ministers, it is equally important that we pay attention to our outward appearance where we’re well-groomed. As people will normally judge our personality and character from our appearance, therefore we should dress to impress in order to impact positively.
I believe this is true as there have been many examples that I have personally witnessed where the boss did not appreciate the good work of his staff just because he (the boss) didn’t like his face or his style. Or how someone who dresses sloppily does not pass a job interview or sales pitch in spite of having a good portfolio.
Lesson Two- Attitude seals the deal
It was only after getting pass the physical test (as indicated by the order of pre-requisites), the king was then able to look further into the inward traits of desire for learning, being well-informed and quick to understand.
This clearly shows that we need to be people that keep learning and improving on the job. Employers are looking for people who display competence and a spirit of excellence that are ready and quick to produce and contribute to their ‘kingdom’ or organisation.
Having these inner traits speaks of forward-thinking people, who do not wait for things to happen, but make things happened because they see the things ahead that are coming their way. With their progressive intelligience, they are able to respond and not react to the changing market forces.
Like Daniel who was able to interpret visions and dreams, as effective marketplace people we should also be able to interpret the trends in our industry. For example, understanding the trends would help in identifying the opportunities that might be present ahead and to seize it before our competitors do.
This simply means that we also be thinkers who give solutions to problems and not merely doers with our jobs.
Conclusion- My personal prayer
Many of us usually hope to see changes in our results or outcome, but I have come to discover more and more than it begins with ourselves first. It begins in redefining who we are, and upping our commitment to ‘play the game’ in the marketplace as a professional.
Once our thoughts and attitude changes, our actions changes, and so do our results.
With these simple insights, I pray that I will avoid complacency at work by just meeting the basic expectations. I want to strive in exceeding the normal expectations by putting more effort in taking my work to another new level with God’s anointing.
I believe every word that is written in the bible is inspired by God, is meant to teach you and me invaluable lessons for living successfully.
Some Ramblings at Work
Lately, work has been a dread. I dragged my feet to work almost everyday.
Not that I do not enjoy what I do, as I do (at least the main part of it). But things have not got any better, if not worse after the new term.
I have lost my enthusiasm for my job as I see us spending more time boot-licking and politicking when we should be focusing and spending our energy on delivering our KPIs if not exceedingly.
I really do not enjoy doing things just for the sake of doing things, which do not contribute to the growth of the organisation or truly benefit our clients in the long term. Everything we do seems to be reactive and not proactive.
I am almost reaching my second year with my present employer and I want to believe that my time there is almost up. Though I know what my next step should be, I am still waiting for the next door to open and his cue for me to leave.
Surprise by this post? I thought of showing the more human side of me that also experiences frustrations and disappointments in the humdrum of life. Ha ha…
Hmmm… I think its time to really plan for my exit. This recession might be a good period to take a sabbatical break.
My Revelation on ‘Thoughts’
Some time ago, I had a dream. In this dream, I was having a conversation with a friend and it went something like this:
“How is heaven different from earth?”
“Thoughts”
“Thoughts??”
I woke up mulling over this and wondered what thoughts had to do with heaven and earth. Finally, I understood this ‘revelation’.
Having big thoughts of big dreams
It is not wrong to say that in heaven there won’t be any need for thoughts as we would when we are on earth.
Thoughts can also refer to as our dreams. Usually when we think of thoughts, it is something related to the future. It can be thoughts for the immediate or distant future.
We think about what to eat for lunch or what to wear for the next appointment. Those are for the immediate. But when we think what will I do for the next 5 years or I want to be a social entrepreneur when I am 30, those are for the distant future.
Big thoughts of big dreams require faith. And faith is what we need in order to think big and dream big. With thoughts and faith closely intertwined, it was clearer for me to understand why thoughts would no longer exist in heaven.
Because in heaven, faith is no longer required as we are with God and all things will be perfect.
More decoding on thoughts
If it is true that thoughts are no longer needed in heaven, it means that our thoughts should be regarded as something sacred and precious while we are living this life on earth.
But what thoughts are we mostly thinking? Negative or positive? Backward thinking or forward thinking? Destructive or productive?
I submit that if we just have this one life to live and use, we should be thinking big and dreaming big for God. Cos it is the only chance we have in exercising faith and to experience the thrill and adrenalin of seeing dreams becoming a reality.
Our attitude and outlook of life should be one of enjoyment and not one crippled by fear and false security. Since we have this one life to live, let’s live it to win rather than living a life avoiding loss.
Having thoughts of godly purpose
It’s important to be thinking big dreams of fulfilling our God-given destiny. “A man’s reach should exceed his grasp,” as Robert Browning said. That’s what keeps us going in life.
What happens when we do not think big and shrink? This leaves us at the level of mere survival in living our lives and it is not what God has created us for.
In truth, Jesus promises a life that is full in Him; one lived as a conqueror (scripture says more than a conqueror!). Let us be daring enough to dream big towards fulfilling His purpose in our lifetime.
Moreover on earth, we can place our faith in a living God that will accomplish exceeding and abundantly more that we can ever imagine through us.
Let our reality begin with our dreams, and our dreams will become our reality.
Crossing the Line of Faith
Its been almost a month since my faith decision to transplant myself to another church.
The entire phase from the point of God’s revelation and to where He has led me now is almost unreal.
I would be lying if I said it was an easy process. In fact, it was one of the most difficult decision I had to face.
God matters to me
The opinion of others mattered a lot to me, but the will of God mattered too. God’s opinion had to count for more.
After six months, I finally yielded to Him and made the decision. God’s vision and call was just too loud to shut out or ignore.
At the Asia Conference, God provided more confirmations of that decision and provided glimpses of where His Church was heading.
Now I can only say that the road ahead looks promising and exciting in spite of the challenges that are tied to it.
You matter to me
Looking back, the process of making this decision was mostly a lonely and emotionally-bearing experience. But I’m blessed that my experience was made more enduring with the love and understanding of some of the brothers and sisters who believed in me.
To those that I may have disappointed, please forgive me. I can only explain my decision with this underlining truth that each of us have our God-given race to run, and I’m obeying God in running mine.
The lessons learnt from this experience are ones that I will not forget. One day, I hope to pen down this experience in a book when this faith decision bears fruit.
Cos I believe that there will be many others who will go through a similar cross-road situation at one point or another, and I hope my personal experience will help them make a prayerful, calculated, balanced and biblical decision.
The New Era of His Church in Asia
Wow… I am still reeling with the Spirit’s fire from last week’s smashing Asia Conference.
It was an awesome privileged to be part of this historical 5-day event and to be imparted by some of the world’s servant leaders of God.
Their sessions (including the controversial Benny Hinn’s) really expanded my paradigm of God’s word and God at work.
The rising of His Church
For certain, God is rising His Church to a whole new dimension of anointing that many of us have not seen or experience before. The kind of anointing that we only read in the book of Acts and only heard about at the Azusa Street in the early 1900’s.
The era is coming where the Church will no longer be regarded as an out-of-touch or irrelevant religious white elephant that has been confined to the ‘back of the room’ of society for too long.
The Church will come in such power in the coming times that our world will start to pay attention to what She will have to say pertaining to every matters in the arena of government, education, business, arts & entertainment and mass media.
Getting ready for this rise
What our governments of Asia have failed to do, the Church will succeed; in uniting Asia as one. In time to come, Asia will be one people with one mandate. Through that mandate, economies and political borders will be flattened.
The question for many of us is to what part do we want to play in this? Or will we let this slip through our fingers and leave it for the next generation to take responsibility.
I for one aspire to do my part and fulfill my responsibilities of His mandate in my generation. I do not think there is always an opportunity where we can be part of something great which will leave a mark in the history of mankind for His glory.
Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.
Isiah 54:2
Brace yourselves and get ready to catch the next wave of the Holy Spirit’s wind.
The End of An Episode to Begin Another
Picture taken with NG5A Unit of Hope Singapore Church on 1 November 2008 during my ‘send-off’ dinner. “Movie screen” effect by www.photofunia.com.
Nation Building or Party Building?
Some time ago, I came out from a Grassroots Induction Programme feeling intoxicated after being overly-fed with PAP-ganda.
This was a session organised by the People’s Association (PA) and I was there to discover more about the overview of the association.
Interestingly, the PA’s vision is “to be a leading organisation in building an active community where all contribute readily to the nation.”
However after listening to the speeches and reading through the handed materials, I concluded that the vision of the PA should be more accurately communicated as “contributing readily to the PAP”, and not our nation.
In fact, after understanding that the PA’s existence was to achieve a political objective- “namely to strengthen the Government’s presence among the people” to counter the communists’ stronghold, it seems that this association is some what a white elephant.
With the communist threat out, why do we need PA?
The PA- Party’s Association
Isn’t the PA supposedly a people’s association? Apparently, all of their board of members are PAP politicians led by the chairman, PM Lee Hsien Loong.
Mind you if the PA is indeed for the people, I think it would have been appropriate for representatives from the opposition parties of Potong Pasir and Hougang to be part of the board in contributing to our community.
Well, it looks quite clear that the PA is just another one of the PAP’s lap dogs to propagate its party’s agenda (please note party, not nation). Another top-down approach.
More down-up approach
Even the NTUC, a union set up for workers is no longer for workers. This is apparent when we see that the core leadership is headed by PAP ministers.
Presently, Mr Lim Swee Say who holds a ministerial portfolio in the Prime Minister’s Office is the union’s Secretary-General.
Such institutions such as the PA and NTUC should be voicing the opinions of the people. But these days, the reverse of the government talking down to the people is more obvious. When this overly happens, we need to be wary as the people like you and I will be least heard more and more over time.
Here is an excerpt from a letter in ST Forum that best describes the unhealthy socio-political state we are in:
“Instead of CASE taking up the cause on behalf of investors, it is former Income chief executive officer, Mr Tan Kin Lian.”
Mr Chua Sheng Yang
I really wonder how CASE being affliated and part of the NTUC family forgot to protect our consumers’ interest? Maybe if you know the answer, please share it with me.
Enough PAP-ganda
When I wake up, I am in my HDB flat. I make sure I switch of my SP Power-ed lights before I leave my home to take either the SMRT or SBS Transit transport to work. If I am late, I would call for a Comfort Delgro cab on my SINGTEL mobile. My route to work will pass by POSB, SP, ITE, NUS, NUH, ST Kinetics, JTC, AH and A*Star. And work gives me money to contribute to CPF and GST, and also to relax and watch MEDIACORP tv and read SPH papers.
Every where we turn, we see them. I believe fellow Singaporeans are getting sick and tired with each passing day by being “talked down” in what we need to do and what not to do.
“Marry early”
“Make more babies”
“Put money in CPF and can take abit out when 55”
“Put off retirement and work till 65”
“Pursue education”
Every where we turn, we hear the same party’s voice.
If it is not enough that we have to leave full decisions of our nation into the hands of the ruling party, it is equally disturbing that when we choose to speak up and voice our opinions we stand a high chance in getting slap with defamation like Dr Chee Soon Juan or the late JBJ.
So the question begs to be answered: Is what we’re claiming to be building for our nation or for a party? I leave that answer for you to decide.
Blogger’s Note: This entry was also published on The Online Citizen (TOC) on 28 October 2008
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