Suband Jaya - Youth Outreach

Praise the Lord for His goodness in helping us to initiate the first SJ - Youth outreach,last Saturday.We had food, games, songs and powerful testimonies.Out of 10 new youths who came,4 raise their hands to receive Jesus and put Him at the center of their lives. Thank the Lord for the parents who help to prepare dinner for about 40 of us. Jim & Lailey gave their testimony of Jesus transformation in their lives. FCC youths from Jalan Ipoh and Kepong gave their support.
What do you think and how do you feel about this?

Combined Fasting and Prayer on Hari Raya Korban

I Thank the Lord for all 120 adults and about 30 children that turn out for our combined fasting and prayer. It was just awesome to see your love for the Lord, his church and the work of His Kingdom. To be able to sing, pray and worship together in three different languages was just "happening". As Young says, we made history by just coming together in the Name of Jesus Christ.

What do you think God thinks of it?

The Agape Feast was so wonderful: people just sitting on the floor and having fellowship. The Lim's nasi lemak was fantastic. Did you get to try the Minado porridge with the special sambal that taste like otak-otak?
The Youth came out in quite a full-force. PTL.
Thank you for your loving Korban - sacrifice.

Finally, hey guys this spot is for you to come in and converse.

O death, where is thy sting?

YL requested that we would take care of her funeral arrangment should she pass away. P. Nellie met with her family members [ still pre-believers ] at the hospital. The last time I met YL she seems to be very at peace of her situation and her relationship with Jesus. For the Christian, Death is a conquered enemy - which has lost its sting of fear. When I think of YL, I only see a sweet assured smile of God's unconditional on her face. Please continue to pray for YL that she might continue to testify of Jesus love.
'But let me tell you something wonderful, a mystery I'll probably never fully understand. We're not all going to die - but we are all going to be changed. You hear a blast to end all blasts from a trumpet, and in the time that you look up and blink your eyes - it's over. On signal from the trumpet from heaven, the dead will be up and out of their graves, beyond the reach of death, never to die again. At hte same moment and in the same way, we'll all be changed. In the resurrection scheme of things, this has to happen: everything perishable taken off the shelves and replaced by the imperishable, this mortal replaced by the immortal. Then the saying will come true:
Death swallowed by triumphant Life!
Who get the last word, oh Death?
Oh, Death, who's afraid to you now?
It was sin that made death so frightening and law-code guilt that gave sin its leverage, its destructive power. But now in a single victorious stroke of Life, all three - sin, guilt, death - are gone, the gift fo our Master, Jesus Christ.Thank God!
With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don't hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort.
1 Cor 15;51-54 [ The Message ]

From Gemilang to Impossible Dream [ My Way ]

It's getting really hot - so I decided to set up a little fountain at the verandah and put a few guppies in. The sound of dripping water, is rather soothing. May I should even set up an aquarium so that I can easily see the fishes swim. [you have to really look hard to find the fishes in that small fountain.]
Met my neighbour during my morning walk - this is the first time I see him exercising. What cause the change? I asked. Doctor's advice, he said - to change diet and exercise. I remember telling him that some time ago.Did not see him making any changes. May be I did not charge him...he.he Anyway, I am happy that he made the changes and I know that he values his health much more. We should not wait for crisis to make changes.
Last Sunday - I played "Gemilang" by Jackyln Victor [ Malaysian first Idol ] to start my message - on "Spiritual Aspiration" and being a :History Maker" for Jesus.Tomorrow I hope to play " Impossible Dream" by Frank Sinatra. One line goes like this " To be willing to march into hell for a heavenly cause " - The only person that did it successful was JC - The Alpha and Omega, the Resurrection and the Life and life Giver. Praise The Lord.

The power of Intentional SMS.

Do you thank God for the cellphone? Especially the SMS features. It is a simple, quick and powerful tool of encouragement [ it's also cheap = inexpensive ].I have used it to communicate simple 'thoughts" to members and collegues.I have personally been encouraged by messages sent to me. Receiving a message just tells you that you are being remembered and that feels good.
Today I was not particularly feeling "high" - physically or emotionally. But then a SMS message came that lifted me: " I am glad i have a pastor who believes in me, encourages me, reflecting the love of Him who loves us all ".I think it is much easire for that to be typed and sent than for it to be spoken.It is not less genuine.
Rather than just using it [ SMS ] for asking or giving information we can harness it as a tool of mutual edification and authentic caring. Of course we must remember that it is not a substitute for face-to-face meeting and sharing.Was it Brian Maclaren who gave this formula: Conversation>Relationship>Movements. I like to qualify it with 'Honest and Loving conversation > Honest and loving relationship > long lasting movements/ ministry.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my mouth be acceptable to You, oh Lord -Psalm 19:14

Tsunami: God or satan?

The Pasar Malam [ night market ] vegetable man [ he used to go to church in his younger days ]posted me the Tsunami Question: Is God punishing man's sin or is it the work of satan?
I just replied that Jesus had taken our our sins and punishment upon Himself because of His love for mankind. We can respond to God's love.
The practical question is how are the Christians to continue to show this love message through our actions. I noticed that humankind response to disaster and crisis - human sympathy is still alive. Christians should be compelled by Agape: disaster or not. Our love actions should be a lifestyle, not just a response to a bad event.
Authorities are cautioning about child traffiking & rape of the helpless survivors.
Post Tsunami:Will God's people move in to give life as ungodly people moved by satanic spirit goes out to steal, kill and destroy.

Rojak....Syabas

Took Nellie out for Mee rebus [ 5 star flavour, no star restaurant - it's found in a back lane ] Wanted to have mee rojak - not available. So here is some available rojak.
This morning the birds were not disturbed by our presence at the porch as they picked the berries off the tree at the front gate. They have found a safe place to be nurtured. Nellie got so excited about the yellow bird.
I plucked a leave with a caterpillar off one of my plants. I wanted to have a closer look at the process of metamorphosis = transformation. After a week the little fellow did not emerge from its cocoon. It is still alive inside -the tail part still wags! Will it ever become a butterfly ? How long will it survive? Any moral of the story?
Tsunami may be out there, but nearby a lot of people are getting dengue. Thank God, that Sherry's blood count went up after much prayers and 4 bags of blood platelets. It must be frightening to have the blood count down to 4! It was an opportunity for cell members to show care and love.Syabas!
Have not been able to take my neighbour Pakcik out for mamak last week. Must make it this evening. I do practise what I preach - to be missional - to be friends to the unchurched. Making time for people is a first sign of showing love. How is your love life?
After last Sunday meet with the worship team, there was a stronger flow of worship at the mid-week service =prayer meeting. Syabas guys!
Bro. Yun of the Heavenly Man will be in KL on the 15 & 16 jan. You would not want to miss this. Till the next block...blog I mean.

Poetic Vibes in FCC - PTL

After last Sunday service, Jim came over and encouraged me to cry more, and he will cry with me. 'Your recent sermons are "all heart" he said.
I was so blessed by Jim Lim's poetry he sent to me: his response to last Sunday's message. I asked his permission to share it with you all.
Title: The next time:

The next time you see the sunrise, Rejoice in the sunrise -
For it is one sunrise nearer to God.
The next time the wind touches your cheek, Enjoy the touch -
For it is one touch closer to the Lord.
The next time you read the Word - Reflect upon the Word -
For it is one Word nearer to God.
The next time you pray with your wife, Put love in your prayer -
For it is one prayer closer to the Lord.
The next time you sit in the porch, Give thanks for the porch -
For it is one porch nearer to God.
The next time you prepare your sermon,Sit in the porch -
For it us one sermon closer to the Lord.

Thanks Jim. Keep on reflecting & write more.

Spending time with the unchurched.

There were many Christian watchnight invitations but I asked the Lord to direct me to someone, some family that needed the touch of the Lord. By divine appointment He enabled me to meet and minister and pray for an old time acquaintance who was going through a rough patch in his life. He invited me to visit him again. That's good.
Last night was an my niece's wedding dinner and it was nice to be able to catch up with many cousins, more nephew and nieces, and grand-nephews and grand-nieces too. It's interesting trying to figure out the right Chinese termilogy of relationship. Being a grand-uncle does make you think harder what you want to do with the rest of your life.It was pleasant too when they playfully talk about your vocation as a pastor. I am glad they were not afraid to get close in conversation with me. It means that I am still approahable from their perspective. I think that's good.Most of them are pre-christian.
It's sad when Christians are not able to relate well with their unchurched family and friends and our family finds us really weird and drifting further and further away from family gatherings - even worse,for the reason that we are too busy with our Christian activities.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify the Father in Heaven.
Our God is good - ourgig.

Prayer - His strong Heart in mine for the new year

We sat at the porch this morning with the "new year" wind giving rhythm for the trees and leaves to do their happy dance. When Nellie started to read Psalms 31, I ran to get my new Message [ The Bible in contemporary Language by Eugene Peterson] to read after her verse by verse. After she finished giving thanks she elbowed me softly to pray. I started with one sentences and then a long pause...I felt great heaviness of spirit...I asked God for strength to be able to continue to carry others in my heart, to continue to be a lover of God and people. I know I cannot do it on my own...I get tired. I prayed that God would raise more people carriers - the stronger carrying the weaker. I asked that God would bring these "people lovers" together to strengthen each other.
Then I requested her to read Mt 11:28ff from the Message> 'Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me -watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. i won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." I said yes to Jesus.