I love His church.

My younger son [ he's 21 ] wrote to us and expressed his belief that we are and have been great parents who has encouraged him to love and serve God. This came with his second month's "offering" to us from his paycheck. It's heart warming, thrilling, yet very humbling for me - knowing how many times I have failed and falter to reflect God in my life. It is either God has covered his eyes from those faults or he has learned to be very very gracious to me, his father. I thought a little further and I gave thanks for the church -the community of Jesus that he and we have been part of for more than 20 years. He has been in the same church since he was born and will be here as long as his parents are sticking around as pastors of his church. I love this church - this community of people who have grown and stick together to be an expression of God's family - the uncle and aunties, the elder brothers and sisters. They have all played a part to raise up my kids to love and serve God. I have this awesome realisation of the power of a "honestly learning to love God" community to bless our children. They watch and have glimpses of "The Cross" at work in our midst - through our struggles and victories to glorify Jesus. I love His Church among us. I pray you do too. GRacias !!!

Same problem, Radical Changes.

Are you in a difficult relationship situation that has repeated itself many times over in your life. You have tried to make changes and there has been improvements, but the situation still persist and you are still very much affected by it in negative ways. In those times you feel like giving up trying to do anymore, you may feel hopeless and helpless. You realised that you have made changes but the other person have not and you are frustrated, angry, unforgiving..throwing in the towel..etc.
I am beginning to discover that these repeated difficult situations are opportunities for radical changes in seeing/thinking and acting. Ask the Holy Spirit for the revelations, the wisdom and the courage for making God-centred, Jesus glorifying, devil-defeating, tsunami-conquering decisions.
I heard a trainer said" New methods for new results" Now I say:" radical methods for radical results; Christ centered methods for God-glorifying results". You may think you look foolish, humiliating, but if your heart is for Jesus you will be surprised by the outcome.
Ps 25:4-54 Show me your ways, O LORD,teach me your paths; 5 guide me in your truth and teach me,for you are God my Savior,and my hope is in you all day long.NIV

The Not so "Idle" moment.

I did not want to miss the finals of Americal Idol. Ya, I love to watch the "moment" of the person's realisation of his/her victory. The tears , the laughter, the unbelief, the truth....that moment. CarrierUnderwood deserves it! [ You know I know that she will win right from the audition,right? belief me!]
I did not have Astro cable, so I arranged to watch it with brother " D" who has not been attending church services for sometime and who doesn't feel strong enough to fellowship.
Watching the 'Idol" was not wasteful at all. We had a time to connect through the whole show and then after the show. I like connecting. I told him I will visit again; maybe over tea and TV. Did we have spiritual formation as we spent time together over the Idol show - I think YES.
His thanks and sincere embrace for my visit at the gate was another "moment" I recorded in my heart.
It was good to watch "American Idol" with the "jesus" I visited in prison many months ago.

Unrush sharing in a safe place.

Yesterday was the second time that we did "cell" in an unprogramatic way. WE had it over tea right into dinner time. I just trusted the Spirit of God to use our availability for each other to work His truth and grace in our midst. I think we had a "community" beiong formed where we find it a safe place to speak quite honestly about ourselves and to one another. A primary essense of community, I think, is the ability to communicate - which has important elements of trust, listening, affirming, gentle correcting, interpreting and pointing [ directing - i.e. what can we do from here ]. As we begin to share our personal story and listen to others, we begin to see how God can weave our stories together to form His story in us and through us - I begin to experience authenticity in our vulnerability, transformation through our information [ our story and His Truth ] and we also hear God sharing His Intentions for us and through us. WE felt hopeful about each of our situations as we find God shining His light through our interaction. I was personally blessed and strengthened. It was 6 hours of unrushed sharing of food and heart.
I know some of us cannot afford 6 hours, but so start with 6 minutes, 60 minutes etc...but put your heart into the time together.

Friends, Funerals and Family Day.

At my age [fifth decade ], we will be attending more funerals than weddings. Can you think of serving 25 years of your 49 years in the same church? It's a quarter of a century. Wow!. I have no regrets of being in the ministry - not when you have so many good friends among your flock and a few good friends in the ministry. Hard times gives us the opportunity to find out the true friends that we really have. Hopefully it also teaches us to value and enjoy each other during the good time that we could have. I am writing this in the context that we really do not know when we are going to say our goodbyes on earth. I remember what Emmanuel wrote on the wall of his room - "When you were born, you were crying and everyone was smiling. Live a life so well that when you die, everyone will be crying and you will be smiling." I will be crying for my friends until [ and hope that ] I smile during my funeral to see them crying for me. Is this dark? No, its reality. As a child of God, we can embrace our death from afar and enjoy living the abundant life that He has promised today as we live for Him. May 2nd. was such a great day of coming together for our Family Day, Picnic and Baptism at Ulu Yam Woods.

Can we be friends, friend? Talk to me. Peace.

Emmanuel - God is with him and treasuring people.

Early this morning at 5am, my first born, Emmanuel flew back to Sydney to continue his study in song-writing. I told him how proud I was that he has worked hard to buy his ticket to be with us for the last 3 weeks. Felt his sadness as we hug and wave goodbye at KLIA. He is a strong man and his God is with him - that's how I feel better. Most times I find "goodbyes" such hard words to say.
At 11 am, I got news that my remaining brother [ there were 5 of us in the family and I am the youngest] had passed away. Another unspoken goodbye. Many people have prayed for him for his "weak lungs" condition and he has survived many critical hospital admissions. I hope that he had made peace with God through Jesus Christ.
Jesus said "work while it is day" - I say "let us also live and play while it is day" - treasure the people around us when they are around us, not when they are gone.