The Weekly Tuesday Group

Yesterday I attended a fellowship session which was called Tuesday Group.

I heard about this weekly informal fellowship session from a friend who is a regular attendee.

Fellowship with a difference

I was intrigued that there was actually a group of fellow believers from different churches in Singapore whom were gathering as a Body of Christ on a regular basis.

That was the story in how I decided to pay a visit. And I wasn’t disappointed.

That evening which I visited, there were about 80 people and were mostly young adults aged between 25 to 35 years old. We worshiped, listened to a guest speaker and finally broke up in smaller groups to pray and prophesy over one another.

It was definitely a good session of building up the inner man and the Church. And I would visit again.

Joining the fellowship

One of the fascinating and appealing things that I like about such a fellowship is being able to learn from different people and churches. My concept of God and His Kingdom expands.

And if like me, you’re drawn to such a fellowship with a difference and with a ‘no strings attached’ approach, you can make your way down to basement level of High Street Centre along North Bridge Road at 8pm on a Tuesday, of cos.

The Tuesday Group was initiated in 2004 by a handful of believers that desired to forged authentic covenant relationships among the Christian community in Singapore; uniting the Body of Christ.

For those who might be cautious or suspicious, this group operates under the covering of the Petra Church.

At 32 and thankful too

Early this month, I had turned 32!

Yes… I may be another year older, but I’ve also arrived to another level of happiness as well =p

This year’s birthday, I’m thankful for 3 things in my life and I’m look forward to 2 exciting next steps or prayers to be answered.

The three thanksgivings points are:

1. My wife. She’s a gift from above and has been a divine support in this transitional phase in my walk with God. I’m the most blessed man on earth!

2. My family. Regardless of what we’ve being through, without my family I would not be who and where I am today. I’m learning to express my love and appreciation for them in more creative ways.

3. My job. I enjoy what I do despite being busy and confronted with a steep learning curve. I relish a noble challenge that develops my potential and enjoy learning what I believe will be pivotal in the near future.

My two prayer requests for the road ahead

The spiritual health of my marriage tops the list. With us less than a year as husband and wife, I’m praying that we will flow as one in His vision and purpose.

I’m believing that as we seek His kingdom and righteousness, He will build and prosper our marriage in every way.

Secondly and lastly, I’m praying for His promotion by leading me to the role where He has prepared for me where I can be of further influence in transforming our society.

And this may not necessary be confined to my job, but in a broader view of fulfilling His kingdom purpose in the marketplace through doors that He has opened for me.

Now at 32, I’m ever more thankful for His grace and goodness in my life. And I cannot resist not shouting His fame in all that I do and become.

“God…. here I am, use me.”

My Post-Asia Conference 2010 Report

The second biennial Asia Conference epic event may have ended over last weekend, but it’s spiritual after-shocks can still be felt.

This year’s conference was nothing short of phenomenal, drawing more than 25,000 delegates from 2,000 churches represented by 70 nations worldwide.

It also co-hosted the Church Growth International meeting that is chaired by Korean pastor, Dr David Yonggi Cho.

One Body- One Church

Asia Conference was a unique platform drawing different parts of the Body together as one.

It was a sight to behold and something to experience in sharing a special and historical moment with fellow Christians from different churches under the same roof worshipping in oneness and enthusiasm.

In my opinion, it served as a catalyst and a spiritual maternity ward to bring change to the spiritual climate in Asia and the world; mobilising and giving ‘birth’ to nation builders that will arise and recapture the spiritual leadership in our world.

My personal experience

I was greatly overwhelmed by the sharing of some of the greatest heroes of faith alive today such as Reinhard Bonnke, Dr. Yonggi Cho, Phil Pringle, Dr. AR Bernard and Steve Munsey just to name a few. It was impartation overloaded!

Every session with them felt like a finale, but it never quite ended with each speaker injecting another high dosage of God’s truth and spirit that shook your worldview and stirred my faith.

I took away not only more spiritual truths and principles from this conference, but more significantly a renewed mind plugged into the fourth dimension in living a righteous, hopeful and victorious life in Christ.

I felt a change in my spirit; a feeling that God had deposited ‘seeds’ in me that are awaiting to release some of His dreams in my life. And incredibly I am catching glimpses of them unfolding in these short few days.

Hopefully, I would be able to share some of them in the near future after I make some serious decisions and when I’m able to ascertain the situation.

For now, I’m already looking forward to Asia Conference 2012!

Asia Conference 2010

The biennial Asia Conference will be bringing and uniting Christians from all over the world under one roof from 26 May to 30 May 2010. And it’s open to ALL and amazingly FREE!

If you’ve not registered, the weekend sessions are accessible. Don’t miss out on the once-of-a-lifetime chance to  be in the same room with some of God’s generals of our age!

Time to Grow Rich

The Lord spoke and encouraged me with His word from Job 8:7. This was directed as “a word for the season” in this new phase that my wife and I are in. Both of us are believing and praying together for these goals to be met by 2015 in His name for His glory!

Fruitful Years beyond Forty

I came across an interesting observation that was presented in a book that I’m currently reading. This was something closely related to my previous entry.

In his book Think & Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, he stated:

“Seldom does an individual enter upon highly creative effort in any field or endeavor before the age of forty. The average man reaches the period of his greatest capacity to create between forty and sixty.”

Napoleon’s reason for his statement is from the analysis of more than 25,000 people who had succeeded in an outstanding way. And the results showed that they rarely do so before the age of forty.

He explains that people do not strike their real pace until they are well beyond the age of forty to fifty. At that phase, it is where they’ve learned to harness their knowledge and experience.

What about those who do not succeed even beyond forty? I think that’s where we get the term- mid-life crisis which happens to middle-aged people.

I’m definitely inclined towards agreeing with the author, but with us now in the Internet Age, free access to almost unlimited knowledge can help accelerate the growth development of people.

At the same time, I’m also encouraged by this and can look forward in approaching that age with hope and anticipation. That’s because I can expect to reap a harvest (by His grace) from the decisions, choices and commitments that I’m embarking today.

Reaching Peak Potential

Over the weekend, Manchester United won an all important match 3-1 against Tottenham Hotspurs to keep their BPL Championship titles hopes alive.

Besides the gallant display, I was particularly impressed with red devil’s old guard, Ryan Giggs who scored two of the three goals for the home team.

Exceptional Ryan Giggs

Unnoticed by some, this 37-year-old player was playing and almost completing his 20th highly-competitive season for Manchester United.

And considering that he has won almost every coveted award or prize available (except the elusive world cup), his consistency and insatiable appetite for success is commendable.

What’s more remarkable is how Giggs has defied all odds to fully stretch and reach his peak potential as a soccer player at his age despite the average soccer player best-by-date being at 28-30 years old.

Excellence required to peak

Here’s a quote worth mentioning: “Winner never quit, and quitters never win”.

If there’s anything that can be learnt from Giggs, it would be his relentless pursuit of excellence to raise the bar of his game. That’s because it is so easy for us to lose the drive to excel after tasting a bit of success.

Likewise, it is my prayer that I’ll have this similar spirit of excellence and stay focus on the goal that God has set for me; to keep on keeping on in reaching my peak potential.

I’m believing God for more (of Him and from Him) and not settling for anything less. I simply desire to become and accomplished all that God has created and destined me for.

What a Divine Wedding Gift!

I have an amazing personal testimony to share; one that attests of God’s providence and goodness!

My wife and I had discussed about going for another overseas trip during the June holidays to make up for what we deemed as a not-enough and too-short honeymoon.

However, with us in the midst of fulfilling our “Arise & Build” church-building fund, we deliberated and mutually decided to postpone that second trip.

The wedding gift

Not too long after that, I was having an overseas tele-conversation with a good friend of mine. And that was when he told me that he had prepared a surprise wedding gift for me.

Can you guess what it was?

Yup! It was a wedding gift that comprised of fully paid two-way air tickets including accommodation at the destination that my wife and I had initially planned to go!

So this June, my wife and I will be going on a sponsored second honeymoon trip. Amazing.

Coincidence? I doubt so.

It is more believable to attribute this perfectly-timed and detailed-fit gift to God than it is to luck or chance.

What this tells me is that my God is good and He loves me (us) so!

A New Lease of Life in Christ

Two years ago, I witnessed a good friend of mine, Thomas responding in receiving Christ in his life.

That was a miraculous moment!

Two weeks ago, I witnessed Thomas responding again.

This time it was obeying the call to follow Christ whole-heartedly with the baptism of water.

Now that was an awesome moment!

Resurrecting from the dead

Jesus said, “I’m the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies”. (c.f. John 11:25).

As symbolic as the baptism is of burying our old-self in the watery grave and resurrecting as His new creation with the life Christ, I’m delighted for Thomas as he is experiencing a new lease of life through Christ.

Are you sick in your body?

Is your marriage in shambles?

Are you facing a road block or a dead end in your career?

Are you in saddled by mounting debts?

Is your dream buried and tucked away as a lost cause?

Are you in bondage with a destructive habit(s)?

Jesus is not dead. He is alive! He is not against us. He is for us!

This easter, remember the resurrecting power of Christ and unleash His power in your life. I guarantee that your life will never be the same again.

Reasons why I am Arising and Building

It is not uncommon to hear churches rally their congregations to “build God a house” during any church building fund campaign.

However, this reason or thrust is flawed. Because God does not need a house.

Being new-covenanted Christians with the gift of the Holy Spirit , we’re the house or temple where the presence of God dwells.

Hence, it is clear that God does not need a physical structure to dwell among His people like how He did during the old testament era.

So why do I choose to support the church building project-“Arise & Build” of City Harvest Church (CHC)?

My reasons for supporting the “Arise & Build”

Though I’m a member of CHC, I’m aware that as a Christ-follower I am not obliged to give to the “Arise & Build” church building fund.

Nonetheless, it is with the same conviction as a Christ-follower in which I’m equally aware that I’m obliged to appropriately invest my finances in where it matters to Him as His steward to fulfill His kingdom purposes.

That said, here are my personal reasons that convinced me in supporting CHC and this campaign:

  • Good stewardship- I read that CHC pays about S$4-6 million every month for rent at the Expo to hold its services. Hence, it is only appropriate CHC ought to own a place for a more sustainable way of operation. Imagine what could be done with that money saved?

  • Mere practicality- This is an obvious reason. There is hardly any free space in Singapore where you can gather a massive numbers of people. So a building is necessity and not a luxury.

  • Trustworthy leadership- I might not have being a member with CHC for a long time, but I’ve personally observed and discovered that key leaders in CHC have demonstrated credibility and competence with their leadership.

  • Kingdom purpose (not church purpose)- Personally, I’m convinced that the gracious and mighty hand of God is on CHC. This church has a unique calling as a trail blazer in breaking new grounds to lead and inspire others in Asia and beyond towards fulfilling the Great Commission in the 21st century.

  • Let’s build up His true House

    I consider it a privilege to be able to share and play a part of this history-making project that glorifies God in a way that represents how progressive the Church of Jesus ought to be.

    The world has always attempted to undermine and inhibit the influence (His power and love) of the Church in the secular. But it is my earnest prayer  and desire to see this change. And I believe CHC will be one of key catalysts or agents to bring about that change.

    In conclusion, though we need not build God a house, it is with such building projects that build our lives up (the true house) as we do our part as Christ-followers to arise, build and establish His kingdom purposes on earth.