Thursday, January 31, 2008

40+

A couple of weeks ago, I received a sms while on my way overseas from my old Junior College mate about playing soccer together. These are some of my very best friends in JC and I really want to spend some time with them. I hope to be able to build some close relationship with them and get them to enjoy Jesus as well.

Anyhow, I replied that they can count me in.

Then, after around 2 weeks later, another sms came and said that we have bought jerseys for everyone at around S$20 plus dollars. I was surprised that we need to have jerseys (we usually play shirtless during JC days… but that was when we were fitter and slimmer) for such kick around with old buddies.

My friend replied that we had signed up for a competition organized by the Automobile Association of Singapore at The Cage with 9 other teams! I was shocked and since I had already signed up, I did not say much.

Then on the match day, I went to The Cage with much joy and fear. Joyful because I would be meeting my old buddies. Some of whom I had not met for more than a decade already. Fearful because I might die from exhaustion on the artificial turf in The Cage!

The other 9 teams were mainly people who had been playing soccer seriously. They came with boots and from the way they had pep talk and warm up, I could tell that we would be dead!

While the other teams were planning their strategies, my friends and I were busy catching up on families and work matters. While they are warming up, some of my friends were eating French Fries and drinking Coke (or Pepsi).

The name of our team was 40+ because we are all turning 40 this year. We were the first team to play and our opponents were named Remand Prison! We dare not asked if they were working in prison or they were inmates there before.

After only 5 minutes into the first game, I volunteered to be substituted out. There were no limits to the number of substitution that we could make. I could also tell that many of my friends were struggling as well. Two of them almost vomitted while one had a splitting headache.

One question that lingered on throughout the whole afternoon was “why are we doing this?”

After I was substituted, I really thought that I was going to die. I laid on the ground and it took more than 3 minutes before I could sit up again.

My friend who was also struggling, then tried to get me substituted back into the game but I pretended to not see him. He chided me for pretending but I told me that it was a case of self-preservation!

We played 4 games and we lost all 4 games; 2-3, 0-6, ?-?, 2-7 (could not recall the score for the 3rd game). And I was the goalkeeper for the 0-6 game!

At the end of the game, we spent time talking and relaxing at a nearby fast food restaurant. Though my body was aching (really aching), the joy in my heart knew no bounds.

I just love hanging out with my pre-believing buddies. Till date, only one of them is a believer. I really pray with my whole heart that these very good friends of mine will wind up in heaven for all of eternity with me.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

How Are You & How Do You Do?

I had a wonderful time at the Healthy Relationship Seminar last night. While looking through the lessons that our Education Department has prepared, I had learnt a great deal about myself as well.

As I took the time to reflect, it was indeed true that my family has marked me in many ways. I had inherited many good qualities from my parents and I am very thankful to them for that. It just reinforced to me again on the importance of family life.

At the end of the seminar, Hui Li (from youth) reminded me that I had made a mistake in my teaching. The way to reply to the greeting of “How Are You?” could indeed be “I’m fine, thank you.”

It is only when people greet you “How do you do?” that you greet them back in the same way; i.e. “How do you do?”

I had taught this before but I had completely forgotten about it :( I was surprised that no one brought this up during the teaching. I really hope that no one would go around replying “How are you?” to a “How are you?” greetings!

My sincere apology for my big boo boo…

If you have read this entry, please help me to inform those who were at last night’s seminar about this. Many many thanks!

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Ear Candling

During the recent conference in Kuala Lumpur, I also tried Ear Candling for the very first time.

One of my friends had shared her pleasant experience of ear candling to Claudia and I before. We had wanted to try but just did not take the time to do so. Moreover, as I can recall, it isn’t cheap as well.

Anyhow, while we were in Kuala Lumpur, we came across this pretty nice shop that does ear candling for around 38 Malaysian Ringgit. Some of the pastoral leaders and I tried it for the first time.

It was indeed very relaxing. This treatment (not sure if that is the technically correct term to use or not) relaxes the body, reliefs headache, cures sinuses & insomnias as well as clears up your ears.

The not so nice thing for me is that the person was careless and allowed some wax to fall on my face! I do not think this is part of the package but it was probably given free to me!

Monday, January 21, 2008

A Loyal Church

Had really been busy for the past few days since my return from our Leadership Conference in Kuala Lumper. Had a wonderful time of learning and fellowshipping with the leaders.

The teaching is really refreshing as we were taught about the importance of being loyal to God and to one another. I was very much challenged to be loyal to God and to the people that He has placed in my life.

Pastor PN and Pastor Simon also taught about loyalty from the perspective of leadership. Loyalty is not something we demand from people but something that we earned as we served our people and be credible in our lifestyles.

The example of how David lost the loyalty of Joab was a very striking example to me.

Bedsides the teaching, the meal times with the many different leaders from all over the world was also very interesting. I had the opportunities to catch up with our pastors from Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, Australia and other countries.

It was very strengthening to hear their life stories as they fight in the trenches of ministries. Both their victories and wounds added much courage to me! I just love meeting real people with real stories who have a real desire to serve Jesus!

Saturday, January 12, 2008

BK Forture Seafood Steamboat

Some of you have actually called me on my mobile when you were trying to locate some of the eating places that I have recommended on this blog. Some others of you told me in person of your experiences after checking out the places that were recommended.

Some of you even told me that you will join me the next time I visit some of these makan places. One of you even asked me to buy you some of these food the next time I eat there and bring them to your house!

Whatever the case, this is true: many of you love to eat! So here's more recommendation.

Recently, I was introduced to 2 good zhi char stores in Singapore. They are really nice and very reasonably priced.

For this entry, allow me to introduce BK Forture Seafood Steamboat (recommended by my sister). It is tucked away off Bukit Timah Road. Part of the fun is finding the place!

Travel along Bukit Timah Road and turn it at Old Holland Road and then turn at Redwoord Ave and then Elm Ave. There is free parking!

I was told that we need to make reservation else it may be hard to get a table. There is also a very nice hang-out place beside this store (I will certainly tell you about this place at the appiointed time). My sister told me that many foreigners eat there.

My family and I (6 of us) ate a lot and it only cost us around $120 plus.

I recommend that you try the crabs cooked in salted eggs, the curry fish head, the coffee ribs, the fish skins cooked in Thai style and the Yam basket! I am not a crab person but I must tell you that this is really quite good. We ordered the really huge ones and it was really well prepared.

Do try it!

The address is as follows
BK Forture Seafood Steamboat
887 Bukit Timah Road
Singapore 279896
Reservation Tel: 64695957

OPENING HOURS
11.00am to 2.30pm & 5.00pm to 11.30pm Daily

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Top 10 Failed Resolutions

This morning, as I was listening to Class 95, the DJs went through a survey that listed the Top 10 Failed Resolutions in the world. According to them, it was done across a large spectrum of people group.

As I can recall, coming in at #10 is the failed resolution to lose weight. Around 41%of the people that made this resolution fail to keep it.

The others in the list (not in any order) are resolutions to eat healthily, save money, spend more time with family, enjoy one's leisure time better, lead less stressful lives, exercise more etc.

But the #1 failed resolution, according to the survey, is the desire to start or improve one’s spiritual life! A total of 60% of the people make and fail to keep this.

And according to the DJs, this survey is not conducted among church or religious people but the general public.

This shows that many people do have a conscious or unconscious desire to fill the void in their hearts. This is simply how God has wired us up. This is a God-shaped vacuum in each and every one of our hearts that long to be filled.

I was trying to find out the source of this survey but I failed (this is not one of my resolution in 2008!).

If you could find the survey source, please do let me know.

Sunday, January 06, 2008

Thank God For Care Groups

We got up early this morning to travel to my brother-in-law's place to ensure that our nephews hopped onto the Hope Kids bus for Hope Kids Live!

We managed to catch Andrew & Therma (care leaders of Hope Kids) at my nephews’ place and ensured that they and their dad got onto the bus. Claudia followed them along while I drove my own way to Nexus.






Nephews and Niece






While hosting my nephews, my niece (she came in another Hope Kids vehicle) and brother-in-law at the breakfast table, I had the opportunity to speak to Rachel (a leader in our NTU group) and her parents. Rachel's mum came to know Jesus during the Christmas service.

We spoke about their work and family. It was really fun getting to know them and to hear their stories. It was really refreshing!

They were later followed up by Tony and his wife (family care leader). This new family will be visiting their care group during the coming week.

I was later introduced to another Christmas service new believer. She is a fellow teacher with one of our Adults leaders.

She was so full of life and extremely chatty. I could see how the care group was working so hard to embrace and love her into their community. Yea people!

Today was also very special because I got to speak to one of my Catholic High school mates that had been in our church for some time already. I had always thought that this guy looked familiar but I just could not really place a name to the face.

He was my secondary school mate and he had been connected to one of our care groups for some time already. When I told the people in his care group that we went to school together, they looked amazed. I don’t know why.

Perhaps they were surprised that my friend looked so good and I… Perhaps they were surprised that I only make mentioned about him after he had been in church for so long a time. Perhaps they were surprised that I had actually completed my secondary school education!

Lastly, I managed to talk to my sister and her husband and Loo, their care group leader. As usual, my sister offered food that she was not eating to me and I ate them all...

Friday, January 04, 2008

Effective Follow Up

I am so thankful for all the wonderful work that many of you have put in during this Christmas and New Year season. Many people have come to a personal relationship with Jesus through all the different parties, worship services and small group meetings that we have had.

This is just great! Thank God and thank you!

To help us in helping our new believers to be established in their new found relationship with Jesus, below is a lesson that I have presented some time ago.

I prayed that it would help us to connect our new believers into our fellowship and communities.

Effective Follow Up

1. Effective Follow Up Through Relationship

One of the most important keys to effective follow up is relationship. God is a relational God. Spiritual growth takes place best in the context of genuine and authentic relationship.

We can build such relationship in our care groups (Hebrews 10:25) and 1-1 follow up (Acts 20:28).

2. Effective Follow Up Through Experiencing God

We need to help the new believers to experience God as soon as possible. We have to help them come to a personal conclusion that God is indeed real and active in their lives.

Do our best to help them experience the reality of God in the course of their daily life: in their work, studies, family life, in various relationships etc.

We can encourage the new believers to ask God for 3 things in their lives. However, we need to explain to them in a balance manner. (Philippians 4:19) God will answer their prayers according to His timing and if it is for their good.

We should also help them experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This would help them in their personal prayer life as well. (Romans 8:26-27)

3. Effective Follow Up Through Small Groups

We should do our best to ensure that we have a conducive atmosphere in our care groups for the new believers to grow in. The atmosphere should be one that is supportive, meets needs and shows care & concern. (Acts 2:42-47)

4. Effective Follow Up Through Selecting The Appropriate Follow Upper

We need to get this right such that there will be minimal barrier for the new believers in relating with the follow uppers.

Do take note of factors like gender, education level, campus and school they come from, availability, existing relationship etc.

5. Effective Follow Up Through Teaching The Bible

Let's do our best in giving them practical teaching that they can apply in their lives. Then they can reap the blessings of obeying God’s Word. (Acts 20:32)

We want to reap the harvest and store the harvest into the God's house.

God is surely with us as we do His bidding!

Thursday, January 03, 2008

Feed Me Chocolate No More!

For the sake of Kingdom, please do not feed me with any more chocolates. I need to appeal to your humanity to help me in this!

It is incredible if you know the amount of chocolate that I have received over this period of time.

When I was in the Filipino camp, just at the beginning, the camp team gave me a big box of chocolates plus 6 toblerone bars. I ate and ate until better senses prevailed as I brought the remainder to be shared with the rest of the crowd.

Then at the end of the camp, the camp team gave me an exquistie box of wonderful Godiva chocolates. It was hard to resist for this time round and thus, I did not resist but I succumb to it rather willingly.

Since then, I had received countless boxes of chocolates of all types and all sizes. Then while I was in Kuching, again the people fed me with plenty of chocolates and really sweet stuff.

Then on Sunday, I was given another box of Govida chocolates. On Monday, I received another dosage of very special chocolates gift from Brazil. Some staff also offered me chocolates at the office.

Then on Tuesday, I got even more chocolates (with alcohol type). Today, I was yet offered more white chocolate!

So please love me by not feeding me with any more chocolates. I can stomach it no more... in other words, I cannot afford to grow my stomach no more!