Happy Independence Day!
Yup 31st of August marks the day Malaysia became an Independent State 53years ago.
31st Aug also marks the day a dear fellow brother leaves KL, Malaysia for the UK to further his studies, kinda like his independence day also.
Time flies, the last time I blogged was the beginning of Aug and now, its the last day already. In between this time many things happened. Some good, some bad, but in all, I am so thankful for all that God has done and given me.
I dont really have a pressing thought or anything to blog bout now. Maybe I would after this week as now its exam period. All that's in my head are the topics which I've been studying.
One random thought is this: Yes, Malaysia, like Singapore, have many girls who suit my taste, but yes, like always, I only see them from a distance.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Home
People ask, do you feel homesick? Do you miss home? Do you miss people back in Singapore?
Right now, with all honesty, no.
Why?
I ask myself that question too. Why dont I miss home, why dont I feel homesick?
The first thing that I can think of is that maybe I was made this way. I was made to travel, made to move, made to adapt, made to make home wherever the Lord leads me to. My wish or dreams was to be a traveling worship pastor. Maybe that is how I was wired.
The next thing that came to mind was the people. People in school, people in PJ. They feel so much like home. They have almost the same config as the people back in Singapore. Just that I use lesser hokkien, and more English, a bit of my limited Malay and limited Cantonese. Other than that, yes, its not that different.
But I do miss the convenience that I get back home and the people who makes all these convenience. I miss mum and dad for their great love and all the sacrifices that they make. Gugu for all the housework and cooking she does. Its really a headache to do all these chores. My sis who help me get good stuffs at cheap rates and a younger brother who is ever so helpful. I wonder why I dont say these to them, but I guess its an asian culture not to show too much love, which is something I wanna break away from.
What else do I miss? Yea, my crazy bunch of friends from church. I miss hanging out with them. I dont know what to say, there is quite a bit, but all in all, I miss being with like minded people in ministry. I dont yet have one here, as in one that I throw myself in like when I was in CPC. But my worship team and YA comm, I miss them very much. And of course my God parents. I miss meals and coffee sessions. They are luxury back then.
So what is this post exactly about?
Well its about a thought that I had. I was just thinking, what is a home? What is it that people would go back to a certain place called home. What exactly makes a home?
As I ponder, I feel that what a home should be is this.
A home should be build on love. Perfect love. Let me elaborate, some parents or older sibling show love in a harsh way. They use unkind words or do deliberate actions to 'rein' in a child. But our Father God chose to give us freedom, He knew that we, as His children, know how to handle freedom. He didnt rein us in, let us roam free! And that freedom needs to be communicated. You are free to do whatever, but know that you are free because perfect love breeds freedom. And in that love, trust is given. You trust that the person you love, knows how to handle the freedom and that he/she wont choose or make decision that hurts the relationship between you and the other person. Have this communicated, so that the responsibility is on the child. He/she will learn to think and make decisions for him/herself.
You on the other hand have to be prepared for failures and hurts that come. With love, hurts may come, but know that the greater the hurt feels, the greater the love is. Simply because the love you have for the other person is just as great as it hurts. But dont stop loving just because it hurts. I assure you that when Christ said He would send a comforter, He would and the Holy Spirit will heal and refresh your hurting heart. Besides, Christ is the perfect love. If you have Him in your heart, you will be loved always.
So you hope that the child wont fail. You hope that he/she will protect the relationship and make the right decision. But what happens when things dont go right and it hurts? I suggest that you embrace it. Embrace the failure, accept it and bring the child back to love. I remember that Cheryl once told me this: Love the sinner, hate the sin. So how to do that? Dont punish or guilt trip the person, shower love. Help the person to fight the sin. That means to be accountable to each other and then clear up the mess. Reinstate and remind them of their identity. The sin is not going to be their identity. The devil tempts them to sin to steal, kill and destroy that identity that they have. Walk through with them this period of time till things are all made right. Christ died on the cross for our sins and he rose victorious from that death. That means, no sin is too great that He cannot forgive or conquer. So we fight and love from victory.
So after all these thoughts and ranting what is in a home? Basically its an environment of love, a culture of trust, and a safety net for people to fall. Knowing that home is where I am accepted even if I fail, is where I am trusted to make things right again, is where I can fall safely. Home is a SAFE PLACE.
And if every home is just like that, imagine the church which is made up of many homes. I want my church to be my safe place. A place where Love grows and impacts the atmosphere, a place where trust is our core value and a place where I know I can fall safe. We celebrate diversity among individuals, cheer on good works and share warmness by simply remembering names.
I know I am rambling and going on in circles, but I hope you get what I mean and what it is I really wanna say. Its late now and I better get some rest.
Right now, with all honesty, no.
Why?
I ask myself that question too. Why dont I miss home, why dont I feel homesick?
The first thing that I can think of is that maybe I was made this way. I was made to travel, made to move, made to adapt, made to make home wherever the Lord leads me to. My wish or dreams was to be a traveling worship pastor. Maybe that is how I was wired.
The next thing that came to mind was the people. People in school, people in PJ. They feel so much like home. They have almost the same config as the people back in Singapore. Just that I use lesser hokkien, and more English, a bit of my limited Malay and limited Cantonese. Other than that, yes, its not that different.
But I do miss the convenience that I get back home and the people who makes all these convenience. I miss mum and dad for their great love and all the sacrifices that they make. Gugu for all the housework and cooking she does. Its really a headache to do all these chores. My sis who help me get good stuffs at cheap rates and a younger brother who is ever so helpful. I wonder why I dont say these to them, but I guess its an asian culture not to show too much love, which is something I wanna break away from.
What else do I miss? Yea, my crazy bunch of friends from church. I miss hanging out with them. I dont know what to say, there is quite a bit, but all in all, I miss being with like minded people in ministry. I dont yet have one here, as in one that I throw myself in like when I was in CPC. But my worship team and YA comm, I miss them very much. And of course my God parents. I miss meals and coffee sessions. They are luxury back then.
So what is this post exactly about?
Well its about a thought that I had. I was just thinking, what is a home? What is it that people would go back to a certain place called home. What exactly makes a home?
As I ponder, I feel that what a home should be is this.
A home should be build on love. Perfect love. Let me elaborate, some parents or older sibling show love in a harsh way. They use unkind words or do deliberate actions to 'rein' in a child. But our Father God chose to give us freedom, He knew that we, as His children, know how to handle freedom. He didnt rein us in, let us roam free! And that freedom needs to be communicated. You are free to do whatever, but know that you are free because perfect love breeds freedom. And in that love, trust is given. You trust that the person you love, knows how to handle the freedom and that he/she wont choose or make decision that hurts the relationship between you and the other person. Have this communicated, so that the responsibility is on the child. He/she will learn to think and make decisions for him/herself.
You on the other hand have to be prepared for failures and hurts that come. With love, hurts may come, but know that the greater the hurt feels, the greater the love is. Simply because the love you have for the other person is just as great as it hurts. But dont stop loving just because it hurts. I assure you that when Christ said He would send a comforter, He would and the Holy Spirit will heal and refresh your hurting heart. Besides, Christ is the perfect love. If you have Him in your heart, you will be loved always.
So you hope that the child wont fail. You hope that he/she will protect the relationship and make the right decision. But what happens when things dont go right and it hurts? I suggest that you embrace it. Embrace the failure, accept it and bring the child back to love. I remember that Cheryl once told me this: Love the sinner, hate the sin. So how to do that? Dont punish or guilt trip the person, shower love. Help the person to fight the sin. That means to be accountable to each other and then clear up the mess. Reinstate and remind them of their identity. The sin is not going to be their identity. The devil tempts them to sin to steal, kill and destroy that identity that they have. Walk through with them this period of time till things are all made right. Christ died on the cross for our sins and he rose victorious from that death. That means, no sin is too great that He cannot forgive or conquer. So we fight and love from victory.
So after all these thoughts and ranting what is in a home? Basically its an environment of love, a culture of trust, and a safety net for people to fall. Knowing that home is where I am accepted even if I fail, is where I am trusted to make things right again, is where I can fall safely. Home is a SAFE PLACE.
And if every home is just like that, imagine the church which is made up of many homes. I want my church to be my safe place. A place where Love grows and impacts the atmosphere, a place where trust is our core value and a place where I know I can fall safe. We celebrate diversity among individuals, cheer on good works and share warmness by simply remembering names.
I know I am rambling and going on in circles, but I hope you get what I mean and what it is I really wanna say. Its late now and I better get some rest.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Week 4, PJ!
Right right, so I missed out on week 3? and week 4 is almost over and its 1st Aug! Time flies huh? But I felt like I have not been doing anything yet so far.
Well, last week Dan came over to visit and we stayed over at Ming Yue's place on friday night. I was playing for their Sat service and I was glad I did. I missed being with God's people together in worship and just being a community.
The family were really nice, took me out for a nice dinner with the grandparents and I really am so thankful and grateful for their kind gestures! They are really really very generous!
Other than that, When I came back from Singapore the week before, I brought back a lot of things which included a electronic drumset and my lovely Yammy!
This week, I am here again at the Ho's place and extended my stay from Friday till Sunday and attended my first house church meeting. I am honestly getting used to how a house church is done. Its a little different but, I think its ok, I just need some getting used to.
Uncle Hock Seng is really a good leader. He has a real pastoral heart and I really want to learn from him. The thought in my mind this morning is to ask him and his wife, Auntie Chooi Kuan to be my spiritual parents while I am here in KL.
Anyhow, God has been really good. I felt this week was really a good week, Praise God that everything went really smooth. It was good that I had good teachers, schedules have been finalised and things are getting on the way.
I even had the opportunity to watch a really awesome funk/jazz band, PHUNKMOB at a really nice cafe, Nerofico. They really blew my mind away as in what is Jazz. Totally enjoyed myself this week.
Last night, I also had the opportunity to watch Ming Han and Ming Yue perform at the finals of Unplugged2010 at ACTS Church. And guess what, THEY WON!!! Champions of Unplugged2010! Honestly I shouted and screamed and cheered so hard for them when they went to collect the trophy! I was really so happy for them.
And ACTS Church is really cool, its what I have thought about, bringing some level of professionalism into the church. Not have it like a dead serious place but a place where people wanna come again and again and putting God first in all areas of Ministry under the leadership of an apostle. So that God's Presence plus ambiance help facilitate or allow people to be in comfort. The leaders in ACTS church are also very warm, something hard to find in churches today. They have an open minded culture that celebrates and cheers people. Its a good culture.
And just a while ago, the house church group brought me to Betty's Kitchen to celebrate my belated birthday and the food was SO GOOD! American styled Kitchen serving RIBS! So YUMMY! Really really, this has been a great week. Thank you LORD!
I've just been thinking about my goal in studying music again. Thinking about it because, can I go to a very high level and standard, even if I am not in some sense going to be worshiping God but being in the marketplace? Is that my calling, marketplace or is it still the church and in the area of music/worship? I dont know, honestly, but all I know is that no matter where I go, what I do or how screw up I end up, God can use it all for His glory. All that matters to Him is an obedient heart that loves Him.
I Love you Jesus, with all my heart I do.
Well, last week Dan came over to visit and we stayed over at Ming Yue's place on friday night. I was playing for their Sat service and I was glad I did. I missed being with God's people together in worship and just being a community.
The family were really nice, took me out for a nice dinner with the grandparents and I really am so thankful and grateful for their kind gestures! They are really really very generous!
Other than that, When I came back from Singapore the week before, I brought back a lot of things which included a electronic drumset and my lovely Yammy!
This week, I am here again at the Ho's place and extended my stay from Friday till Sunday and attended my first house church meeting. I am honestly getting used to how a house church is done. Its a little different but, I think its ok, I just need some getting used to.
Uncle Hock Seng is really a good leader. He has a real pastoral heart and I really want to learn from him. The thought in my mind this morning is to ask him and his wife, Auntie Chooi Kuan to be my spiritual parents while I am here in KL.
Anyhow, God has been really good. I felt this week was really a good week, Praise God that everything went really smooth. It was good that I had good teachers, schedules have been finalised and things are getting on the way.
I even had the opportunity to watch a really awesome funk/jazz band, PHUNKMOB at a really nice cafe, Nerofico. They really blew my mind away as in what is Jazz. Totally enjoyed myself this week.
Last night, I also had the opportunity to watch Ming Han and Ming Yue perform at the finals of Unplugged2010 at ACTS Church. And guess what, THEY WON!!! Champions of Unplugged2010! Honestly I shouted and screamed and cheered so hard for them when they went to collect the trophy! I was really so happy for them.
And ACTS Church is really cool, its what I have thought about, bringing some level of professionalism into the church. Not have it like a dead serious place but a place where people wanna come again and again and putting God first in all areas of Ministry under the leadership of an apostle. So that God's Presence plus ambiance help facilitate or allow people to be in comfort. The leaders in ACTS church are also very warm, something hard to find in churches today. They have an open minded culture that celebrates and cheers people. Its a good culture.
And just a while ago, the house church group brought me to Betty's Kitchen to celebrate my belated birthday and the food was SO GOOD! American styled Kitchen serving RIBS! So YUMMY! Really really, this has been a great week. Thank you LORD!
I've just been thinking about my goal in studying music again. Thinking about it because, can I go to a very high level and standard, even if I am not in some sense going to be worshiping God but being in the marketplace? Is that my calling, marketplace or is it still the church and in the area of music/worship? I dont know, honestly, but all I know is that no matter where I go, what I do or how screw up I end up, God can use it all for His glory. All that matters to Him is an obedient heart that loves Him.
I Love you Jesus, with all my heart I do.
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