Living invitational lives

I borrowed "invitational lives" from Sherman Kwek.
In the context of urban, city life it is counter culture to live an invitational life, but we are also going to reap a sweet return of simple joy and fulfillment against the tide and ugly consequences of materialism and consumerism.

1. Jesus lived an 'invitational life". He invited the seekers to "Come and See" - John 1:39 when asked "where are you staying?" . "They came, saw and remained with Him that day! The time spent was impactful for Andrew who [ brought ] invited Peter to Jesus as well. Philip in turn invited Nathanael. Jesus gave the invitation for people to be with Him. Mk 3:13-19
"Come, follow me and I will make you fisher of men" Mt 4:19. - Walk and Work with me.
"Come unto me all you that are heavy ladem" Mt 11:28 - Find rest.
"all who are thirsty, Come and drink" John 7:37.- Be refreshed.
2. Jesus invitational life was a transparent life: 1 John 1: 1-3 - The apostle declares that the Jesus - Incarnated Word - was heard, seen with eyes, looked upon, and our hands have handled..
3. Today we are invited to invite Him that He might come in and eat with Him. Rev 3:20. He wants to know as He wants to be known.
4. Jesus also invited Himself. He connects with people in a very personal way. He asked Zaccheus" make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house" Lk 19:35
Mary, Martha, Lazarus were very closed friends. He was branded as a friend of sinners and publicans.
5. The Samaritans invited Him to stay longer after "tasting the water" John 4:40. They delight in His presence.

We have a challenge to live out invitational lives that are attractive and life-giving in the midst of shallow relationships in this materialistic and "me-first" world. Our attractiveness does not mean a "perfect, all in order spiritual life" but an honest acknowledgement of our journey towards transformation in Christ Jesus.

We wisely and consciously avoid being sucked into the patterns of this world that would suck us of the joy of simple and authentic kingdom relationships.
Can we demonstrated a different kind of community that embodies authenticity, honest caring and sacrifice?
Let us practise true Christian hospitality irrespective of our jobs, the cars we drive or the house we live in. There might be angels waiting to bless us. Heb 13:1-2; Gen 18:3-5; 19:1-3.

To know and be known
To love and be loved - Can there be a greater joy?

The journey....
A quivering Fear,

A fearful courage,

A courageous trust,

A trusting vulnerability,

A vulnerable JOY.

Heb 12:2 - Looking to Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith, who for the JOY that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame....

Random Catching ups.

I have not been posting for the past 10 days. Wonder why? Have been reading other blogs.
Quite a lot of human interaction.
1. Brunch with Ps.Alpha. Introduced him to the "pan mee [ no longer ]under the tree".
2. 4 car loads and I took a ride with Norman to go down to Segamat for Jamie's wedding. She's now Mrs. Ong Lai Sing. God bless them greatly. On the way back, pick up a 6 kg. fish from Dengkil pond for RM10.
3.Cook the head with 2 flavours: -ginger and hot dried chilli [ Kong poh ] at restaurent. Dinner comprised of The Choy family, Steven, Chester, Kelvin and myself.
4.Ray Chee [ have not seen him for more than 15 years ] came to preach on Sunday. He's pastors Victory Family Center at Melbourn. Ray brought Philip & Olivia for the worship. Have not seen them also for ages. Good old friends. Thanks Ray for the ministry. So much to catch up.
5.Had Sunday fellowship dinner at Kampung house in Kepong. Catherine cooked the second half of the fish - ginger and asam. Other dishes include: Black vinegar chicken, chopped taugeh fried with minced pork, yong tau foo... - forget the rest already lah.
6. On Monday, visited Alwin n Laurene's new baby Chloe - very sweet lah.

Well, got it down at last. Got to move on.

Christmas all life through.

It was 4 days later that I managed to get her a devotional book about "Peace". She met me with such great enthusiaism. Few days later she was smiling broadly as I passed her a CD and another devotional book. I managed also to get her Indonesian tempe. She was delighted. To see a widow smile - Wow.
God has given me the privilege to see more people smiling, being happy, knowing that they are loved, valued and appreciated for who they are and not what they can do. To see Christians regaining or rediscovering a wonderful life from a wonderful Jesus. " There are many sincere Christians who love Jesus and yet have been spiritually abused and abandoned by so called "gifted" personnels. They know that God loves them and they have responded to serve him zealously but they have yet to experienced being loved and nurtured because the "gifted ones' just used them. The strong ones go on serving inspite of those treatment but there are many casualties along the way. Some are still hoping for others to pick them up and show them the better way. Let the strong strengthen the weak.
Has anyone remind you of Christmas? Just another 7 weeks and it's Christmas again. Joy to the World, the Lord is come. We are bearer of good tidings andwe have good news to share that would bring Joy to the hearers. Good news of love, forgiveness, friendship, purpose and meaning. We have been blessed with much good to share to bring Joy to others. Let's have Christmas all year round and all life through.