Fasting & Praying

Claudia and I had our meetings with the Adults leaders today. Among the several things that we spoke about, we also talked about the Christmas harvest.

One of the things that impressed me very greatly is that every group already has their fasting and praying plan in place. Some are starting a 4-week plan while some others are starting a 21 day fast. Some have chain fasting and praying around the clock while some others are fasting from TV, coffee and some activities so that they can devote more time to pray.

All are praying for their personal growth in Christ as well as for the people they want to reach out to with the love of Jesus Christ. We really want to let people know that Jesus is truly the reason for the season. We want to offer hope to people and let them know that Jesus is completely dependent; unlike the economy or any man-made institutions.

Let’s continue to fast so that we can feast on God. Let’s pray for the gospel to be let out and bear fruit in a big way during this perilous time. Let’s pray that we will be better harvester and that more harvesters will be sent to the harvest field too!

Matthew 9:37-38
Then he (Jesus) said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

Good Year Local Hainanese Chicken Rice Ball

I am a Hainanese and so is Claudia. Think Jesus may be one too :)

Unlike the Cantonese, we Hainanese are not famous with many cuisines. However, what we have, we are really good at it. I am obviously referring to the famous chicken rice.

There is this place in Toa Payoh that I have enjoyed a couple of times already. It is located in Block 111, Toa Payoh Lorong 1 #01-366. A full meal for 2 persons would only cost you S$10.50.

The key speciality is the Chicken Rice Ball. My grandma used to make it this way too. Everyone is handmade and it is rather unique.

The chicken is fantastic and the chilly is out of this world. Even as I am writing now, I am salivating. The sauce and the chicken is a perfect combination. They also serve peanut soup as well. It goes really well with the rest of the meal. You must also try the Hainanese Chap Chai too.

It really feels like Chinese New Year at my grandma's place in my growing up years. Wonderful labour of love home-cooked food.

Taste it to believe how good Hainanese food can be!

Stretch Your Fuel With These Tips

For the drivers, if you have not already known or if you need some reminders.... (do also let us know if you have other tips)

Fri, Nov 14, 2008
AsiaOne

Shell FuelStretch Tips

Fuel matters - Fuel economy is maximised in the engine through a combination of good driving habits and using the right fuel. Shell fuels with Fuel Economy formula are designed to help reduce friction and improve cleanliness in the engine, thereby improving fuel efficiency.

Drive smoothly, drive safely - Aggressive driving can use as much as a third more fuel than safe driving. Also, avoid accelerating or braking too hard and try to keep your steering as smooth as possible.

Avoid over-revving - Change gears carefully when you're accelerating. Never "redline" the rev counter because you unnecessarily waste fuel.

Keep your tyres at the right pressure - Correctly inflated tyres are safer, last longer and drive more efficiently. A tyre that is under-inflated reduces fuel efficiency. An under- or over-inflated tyre is also more susceptible to failing and blow-out.

Avoid high speeds - The faster you go, the more wind resistance you'll encounter and the more fuel your vehicle will consume just to maintain speed. Driving 5mph over the speed limit can affect fuel economy - you'll be shocked!

Tune and service your engine regularly - A well-tuned engine can help improve fuel economy, so change your oil frequently and follow your car manufacturer's recommendation on servicing.

Remove the roof rack - If you're not using your roof rack, then remove it. It affects the aerodynamic efficiency of vehicles and create drag, reducing fuel economy; it all adds up to less mileage.

Avoid carrying excess weight - You may be surprised, but every extra pound or kilogramme matters and affects your fuel efficiency, so keep your boot or back seat clear of unnecessary items that you use once in a while and just add weight to your vehicle (e.g. golf clubs).

Use air conditioning sparingly - Air conditioning puts added strain on the engine and uses fuel to operate; limit its use to particularly hot days. When possible, use the fan instead or simply set the temperature to a comfortable, not cold, setting (about 22-23 °C).

Avoid excess idling - It's obvious, idling gets you nowhere. However, it still burns fuel. Turn the engine off when you're in a queue or waiting for someone for more than two minutes.

Master Crab

I must confess that I am not exactly big on crabs. I find that it takes too much work to get to the little reward. However, I know of many people around me who are big on crabs and if I may add, rather crappy at times as well!

It was after a meeting that ended at around 11pm. While James, Claudia and I were about to set our way home, we decided to go to this rather famous store to check out some tasty crabs.

James, the crab expert ordered two rather big crabs prepared in salted egg sauce. I have tried this sauce before but it did not leave a big impression on me. Anyhow, I submitted to the expert’s recommendation.

When the dish came and when I had a first taste of it, it was hard to stop. My strategy was to ask some searching ministry questions that would get both Claudia and James engaged so that I could eat more. And it worked!

This is the first time I see myself wolfing down crabs. It was really nice. This store is in Block 19 Ghim Moh Road and you really have to try it to believe it.

As I have been told, there is a few other famous crabs stores in Singapore located in Still Road and AMK…

War Stories

Nothing floats my boat more than to hear victorious stories that comes from the trenches of ministry and doing life in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Last Friday was our combined adults service. There were more than 70 first-timers in that service! As I could tell, there were at least7 people that crossed the line of faith.

At the end of the service, I went around saying my thank you to all the crew that worked hard for the event. I was doing that to one of the sisters who worked really hard on the MM side of the game. After I was done saying, she said that as great as the MM went, the key thing for her on that night was that her friend, that she had been trying to reach for Jesus for the past 10 years, gave her heart to Jesus.

Even as I am writing now, I can feel a lump building up in my throat. This is just great.

After the combined care group when we got drilled through the ins and outs of outreach, we were more equipped in our hands and more strengthened in our hearts to reach more for Jesus.

Below is one such success stories (permission had been granted to past this). Gavin works in Singapore and he worships in our church. This is his story about how God used him to reach out to his brother in one of his trips back home.

Be inspired…

On 29th Oct 2008, my younger brother Rex said the sinner’s prayer after me as he decided to receive Christ.

This is how it happens…..

Rex drove me to the air port, after he dropped his wife Hui Ling for meeting. When we were entering highway, we were complaining about the distance of the international air port, KLIA being so far from the city. Along the way we didn’t talk much as I was praying that I can share to him about God after sharing to him a family issue which I long to see improvement. Frankly, I was not so sure about what to share to him about God, therefore I also praying. When we were on the highway for quite awhile, I noticed that the petrol indicator light was on, meaning the petrol is low. I told him that and he was telling me that he forgotten to pump in petrol while in the city and hopefully we have enough petrol to last to the next petrol kiosk.

We were quite worried. I started to pray in my heart that God will help us to have enough petrol to last to the air port or the next available petrol kiosk. Rex started to switch off the air-cond and wind down the window a little. Not long after he did that, the car engine stopped and he pulled over to the shoulder of the highway. It was disappointing, Rex maybe thinking he should have pumped in petrol earlier; and for me I was thinking “God, are you kidding, I thought you will help us to get to the air port or the next petrol kiosk? How come the engine finally stopped?” Soon after the car stopped, Rex walked out and head to the front to try to get to the nearest emergency phone along the highway. I sat down, feeling helpless but continue to pray that God to send us help but I wasn’t sure what kind of help, really. After that, I started to get up the seat and look to Rex to think of going with him for the emergency phone. But I felt a very strong urge to continue to pray, so I sat back and prayed. Promptly, the Holy Spirit told me to “Drive”! I got into the driver seat, started the engine, drove towards Rex and ask him to get in to the car; he was so amazed and found it incredible and said “how come the car can be started again?”

I continued to drive, exited from the highway. As we stopped at the toll for payment, he was so worry that the car may just stop again. But I felt very calm and peaceful at that time as I know God is with us, so I told him “don’t worry, it wont stop and we will definitely get to the next petrol kiosk.” After passed by the toll and continue to drive for roughly another 2km, we found a petrol kiosk, it was joyful. Soon after I drove into the petrol kiosk, the engine stopped again. In my heart “God, this is must be you!”

After pumped in petrol, full tank, he drove on and I shared with him about the prayer I made after realized the petrol is running low and God spoke to me to “Drive!”, he responded “It is so powerful, I believe it” . I told him that this is not the first time He helped me and shared with him other testimony as well. After checking in at the air port, we managed to have sometime for our dinner at Mac where I started to share with him the family issue, after that the bridge diagram. He believed that there is God as he said that his position is on God’s side in the bridge diagram. I asked him whether he wants to receive Jesus into his life and he said YES. I led him in the sinner’s prayer. Thank God, he is saved.

Denote:
I have a wrong perception about my brother for a very long time. I thought he is very staunch in his believe in other god as he was wearing an idol, quite big in size. After I asked him to take off the idol from his necklace before praying and told him that no more believe in other gods if he decided to accept Jesus, he told me that “In fact all along I did not believe in any gods, I wear it for protection against evil spirits” (he had an evil spirit encounter before). So don’t judge any pre-believers, things might not be true as what we think.

I shared with him a few times before about Jesus & some bible verses. This time, God created opportunity and moves his heart, so trust Him : )