Australia Trip 2008

Date: 7 to 29 Dec 2008
Destination: Brisbane, Queensland
Member: Ernest, Rachael, Josef, Deborah, Helen and Stephanie (aft 13 Dec)

Suggested Itinerary:
7 Dec Sun:
2000hrs Dinner at T3
2130hrs Check in
2320hrs Flight to Brisbane

8 Dec Mon:
0900hrs Reach Brisbane, collect luggage and car
1100hrs Adjourn to Gold Coast (approx 1.5hrs)
1300hrs Check in at Burleigh Palms

9 Dec Tue:
Pool and Beach

10 Dec Wed:
Burleigh Head National Park
Whale Watching
BBQ besides beach

11 Dec Thu:
Shopping at Harbour Town and Biggera Waters
Birds feeding at Labordar Park or
Biggera Waters Park

12 Dec Fri
Laze around watching DVD or
visit the beach again
At night visit Beachfront Market

13 Dec Sat
0800hrs Adjourn to Brisbane
0930hrs Reach Brisbane
South Bank Park
Depends on Stephanie flight, aft picking her at airport, go back Gold Coast

14 Dec Sun
Visit Carrara Market

15 Dec Mon
Movie World

16 Dec Tue
Either go out sea to Whale Watch or
Kayaking

17 Dec Wed
Drive up to Tamborine National Park, Eagle Heights and Witches Fall

18 Dec Thu
0700hrs Pack up
0800hrs Adjourn to Brisbane
0930hrs Break point at Brisbane
1300hrs Lunch point at Gympie
1430hrs Adjourn to Bundaberg
1800hrs Reach Bundaberg, check in Midtown Caravan Park

19 Dec Fri
Explore the town of Bundaberg and shores of Bargara
Bargara - shore combing, BBQ, playground and shopping

20 Dec Sat
Bundy Belle river Cruise

21 Dec Sun
Rest and worship
Spent a lazy day at Elliott Heads or Innes Park beach

22 Dec Mon


23 Dec Tue

24 Dec Wed

25 Dec Thu

26 Dec Fri

27 Dec Sat

28 Dec Sun
0800hrs Adjourn to Caloundra
1300hrs Reach Caloundra
Check in at Dicky Beach Family Holiday Park (Suggested)

29 Dec
1000hrs Check out and adjourn to Brisbane
1200hrs Return car and airport check in
1445hrs Fly Home
2030hrs Reach Singapore

Baby and Holiday

What a joy! We are going to have a baby! I have been praying that the Lord will add to me another boy - but of course a baby.

Psa 18:31 For who is God, but the Lord?And who is a rock, except our God?—32 the God who equipped me with strengthand made my way blameless.33 He made my feet like the feet of a deerand set me secure on the heights.34 He trains my hands for war,so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

The Lord, my God, will equip, strengthen and train me... so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze - but where are the arrows..

I remember His promise and I picture myself on the heights, now I see the bow and I need more arrows. Children are my arrows. Amen.

The December Holidays are confirmed - we have book the ticket. I look forward to it. I pray that Rachael with her big stomach will enjoy the slow stay in Brisbane and Gold Coast for 3 weeks. She will not be able to take part in a lot of activities, but thank God, that Josef and Deborah has my mum-in-law and stephane to accompanied them and keep them occupied. As for me, I am looking forward to just relax, marking the end of this year - the year of transition and enter into a year that mark a new begining.

We have moved and Many Changes

We are currently staying at my father's house. A small (compare to our previous house) 3-room flat that house 6 persons. But we are adapting well and everybody has settled down. All the things are in order and each found a place or a corner to store.

Rachael has moved on too. She is now no longer a MOE staff - teacher. She is now a associate lecturer, teaching part time at SIM, UOL, Singapore Polytecnic. Her primary purposes are to spent more time with the kids. Her morning without teaching assignment started off early -driving the kids to school, then followed by some excercise routine or assignment planning. When Josef is back, she will coach him in his studies, before picking Deborah at 1630hrs. She has more time for the kids, the family as well as herself.

I too work myself towards FTD (full-time daddy).

My dad is down with cancer and is currently undergoing chemotraphy- taking his fourth dosage, a total of eight. Rachael helps alot by fetching him to the hospital for consultation. She talks more with my father. I thank her for that. Rachael has really been taking good care of the family. I pray for my father salvation in t=knowing the Lord Jesus Christ.

Forex is taking shape and The Isaiah Initiative is forming. It will be soon, and I pray for sooner that all will fall into place before I soar with Him on wings like eagles!

Well, its holiday next - finally after a drought after our last major NZ trip in Mar 2007, we are going Thailand Chingmai in September. Air tickets and accomodation booked and we are going with Charles, Renna and their two kids - first two families vacation. Fun, but pray that it will turn out well without minor or major conflict during the trips!

Next will be Australia in December. Finalizing the airtickets, then followed by itenary. I hope to spend more time there and enjoy the "harvest" time with my family.

Oh, yes, a niece of mine - Liyuan will be coming - air tickets sponsored by me next month in August. She happened to be the first Christian in her hometown and relatives back in Shantou. I hope to empowered her during her stay that she may be more equipped with the ministry in Christ Jesus when she go back. But of course, the house is too small and both Rachael and myself need to work and cannot entertain her throughout. I pray for people to take care and accompanied her.

Deborah is getting very cute - talkative and full of energy. I really enjoyed the time with her, especially throwing her up in the air, jumping bed and even playing in her bath tub!

Josef is a very sensitive boy. I hope to encourage him though a constant reading of the bible.

Lastly, we will be going to the new chruch building in Woodland.

The work in China

Something the Lord has impress upon my heart is to improve their economic situation, through involving the local and at the same time finance the local Church in growth and discipleship, partnering with the local Church and para-church in Singapore.

There are a number of areas:
Church affiliation
Business support
Leadership empowerment

It goes therefore beyond me and unless God further impress on my heart how to go about the work.

It is no longer I work alone to bring the gospel to the local, but the local themselves do it. There are more Christian in China and one Ernest. As such, the best way is to partner a local Church.

A good support is to empower the leaders. This can be done through training, but of course the person who do so must be right with God and right in the heart, besides just knowledge. Basically dicipleship.

Of course, the other aspect is finance. Of course God will provide, but the leaders of the Church should pastor the Chruch more than just concern about money. This is where business come it. Some form of involvement with the local is neededin particular the members of the Church. The business need to be run by the local, because it is the business setup must have a similar multiplication method like the way Jesus train the disciple.

The Church and para-church will help in the first while business man will help the second.

In both cases, it began with an identification with a local chruch and community. And the method of help must be discipleship, because by multiplying, it will free the church 'trainers' and the business man to do more rather than be bog down by a single church.

Likewise, the local church should be able to stand on its own feet, because the start off intention is to make use of the Christain in China to reach out to thmeselves.

28 May 2008

As I was praying for my family, God showed me the areas I scan bless my family.

For Rachael is Undivided time, Present and Surprises and Give affirmation and encouragement
For my children is Guide them, Show them and Teach them
For my father is Concern, Care and Conversation.

For myself is doing the Lord way for the sake of Spiritual growth, for the Organization growth and for Personal Growth.

For something that is good or bad turn out, is something the Lord wants to teach. What is He trying to do to your heart and what is He trying to teach you.

If there is something to learn from the situation, it is something that the Lord wants to do in my heart.

God is more concern that the concern for finishing the work may loses the heart. It is the right heart that finish the work. The work that is unable to finish, God can always raise another one to complete it, but if God loses the heart, He loses the person. Anyway the work is all about people and about their heart.

As such, I am to surrender my Vision, my Immediate family members and Pocessions (wealth, knowlege and experience).

Lord, as you continue to search my heart, let it be right. And as start to surrender to you, you show me how and what is the work you want me to do.

I lift away the vision and any burden. I just make myself ready - my family, my wealth, my knowledge and my experience. I surrender all of them to you and allow you to use them.

28 May 2008

I am going a a rural town 800km from Kunming. I do not know what is there, but simple going by faith to pay visit to a local church that has been set up by a missionary years ago. The missionary has not seen the church and we are like Acts, reporting about the growth of this Church.

I pray that the Lord will open my spiritual eyes that I may see what the Lord want my heart to learn. Keep us safe and in any discomfort, let the faith be seen.

27 May 2008

I started the day with a morning jog. Rachael has also mentioned about keeping healthy. In a similar confirmation, someone shared about the body is nmber one and wealth are the zeros behind. Without this one, it will all be zero.

Pau and I went to a shop to get some tennis ball. I have a feeling of begin cheated. I believe it should be 5 for 3 balls instead of 1 for 5. As such, we bought 4 which cost 20. In my mind, I was going through how to get back. What is the Lord teaching me? I have place again wealth above. The balls are for the game later and the generousity may bring about something good later. This is small money, but I do not like the feeling of being cheated. What is the Lord trying to say to me? Yes if it is my money and it is being stolen, you will feel sour. But look if the money is not yours, you don't feel bad. I have learn how to let go.

Paul say that 4 is enough. I mentioned that the class is big and it will need more balls. Could I have just buy more. Maybe the price put us off in buying more. At the class later, we did not even use the balls because of time constraint. We have use our strength and in doing so, think that we should prepare the very best for the conduct of the lessons. In fact, Jason, bought four, fearing too that we might not have bought them. The Lord in such a process taught me that it is not how much your work, your know how, your preparation. If you have done all these, surely the lessons will be done well - it is your glory. The glory ought to belong to God. In fact the last is a thrid smaller, how much have I believe in what God will do for Himself the work He has to complete.

At the Olive Conection, the owner Steve shared how he started the place and now it has come to past. Again, the vision God gave, He will bring it to past. He will bring it to past - not me. The Lord is interested i your heart more than the work. The engrossment in the work may failed the heart. God wants the heart and not the work. The work, He wil make it come to past.

I thank God, that I am valuable to Him. Despite all that I have depend on myself and think that I am doing it all for God, God still want to bring my heart right, so that He can do a deeper work in me and though me.

Paul shared about the 4 Ps = Power, Pragmatic, Posture, Perspective. Work on the later two, which allow and know what the Lord want you to know, and what the Lord want you to learn. The first who should come later such that ego be put last.

The team was mainly made up of couples. I wish Rachael is here. I want to partner her and I learn so much from them as how they support each other as a couple.

It is not leading in the area you have tread. It will be too long. It is learning from the Lord as He teaches your heart that you know and start to lead in that area. It is a learning process and a willing for the Lord to reach out to the heart. Lord I pray, that you teach me how to lead my family that all of them will be able to see what I see that what you teaches me each day.

I surrender. I acknowledge that you have bless me in abundance and the blessings in wealth, in knowledge, in experience are yours. I will learn and surrender them to you too. My family are precious to me, but they are too on loan, they belong to you and I have therefore surrender them to you, because you will through me teach them and grow them.

All work start with the heart and that speak about surrender - thereby allowing the Lord to act. Faith grow when you know that it is not your work, but it is the Lord who through you, uses you to accomplish what He will come to past. In such a situation, glory will goes back to God, who will be praise.

Romans 4:16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

Psalm 119 9 How can a young man keep his way pure?By guarding it according to your word.10 With my whole heart I seek you;let me not wander from your commandments!11 I have stored up your word in my heart,that I might not sin against you.12 Blessed are you, O Lord;teach me your statutes!13 With my lips I declareall the rules [3] of your mouth.14 In the way of your testimonies I delightas much as in all riches.15 I will meditate on your preceptsand fix my eyes on your ways.16 I will delight in your statutes;I will not forget your word.

These are the text that the Lord gave and let me learn from them.

26 May 2008 Yunnan Trip

The day began at 0900hrs. The team set off to a christian rehab center. The journey took about an hour.

At the rehab center, the pastor shared about the history about the place and how the Lord has blessed the process. It started humbly as a desire by the pastor to put into action instead of prayer for a drug addicted relative. The process of rehab was simple reading, worship and prayer. It was something to learn that it is not the knowledge you know about. Instead not knowing how permit God to do something. It is therefore the surrender to the Lord so that He can start something.

By faith they acquire the land with much disappointment at first. But it was through the disappointment that the Lord teaches the reliance and the continual faith in Him. He will provides.

The presence of the Lord was at the place when we worship. I enjoyed the moment of worship, and can truely see that the people at the center so desire to have the Lord and worship Him.

Paul took the opportunity to share with the driver about God and explained to him, who happen to be the only non Christian. Though he did not accepted Christ, but the presence of God, the love of God he can experience when he witness the worship. Paul shared about Jesus who always happened to be at the least expected place and do the least expected work - when everybody was worshipping, and though he wished he was there, he knew that the presence of God too desired to be with the driver.

After lunch, the next was conducting a English class at Yunnan Finance and Economics University. Jason presented.

I find that he spend too much time selling himself and failed to permit the students to relate with the team. In such a process, I reflected and realise that it is not about me about how much I know and how confidence I am. I need and pray for the surrender of all these myself, so that again the Lord can do a deep work in me.

I played a small role, but I know that I need not be the one who do the significant. I am happy and simply pray during the process.

What is the Lord trying to teach me? What is the Lord speaking to me?

I depends too much on myself and the Lord cannot do anything in me unless I surrender to Him.
I have to surrender my vision, my knowledge, my experience, my confidence, my wealth. The Lord taught me that it was not about the work, but it it was about the heart.

25 May 2008 Yunnan Trip

The day started early at 0630hrs.

I spend time with God before heading for breakfast at 0730hrs. Breakfast was plain and simple - some noodles, porridge with some salted and spicy meat and vegetables. And fried eggs.

We we then ferried to an official church. A big Church - five storeys high and for each floor of seating, there must be at least a 1000 people if not 800. The seating capacity spilled over to the adjacent corridor. One reason for so is probably the number of growing belivers but not enough Church.

Ther service is very routine - singing hymns after hymns. You need a song book, which was not provided in order to sing along with them.

The preacher spoke about Abraham faith - a faith in a god that can raise the dead (that's is why he dared to scarifice Issac) and a faith in a god that provides (that is why he left Cannan).

In the preacher own testimony, it revealed to me that we have not been living a life based on faith - probably we had abundance and need not to have His providence and neither have we see the dead raise. But Abraham did not see the dead raise and did not have anything yet, but he believe and that is faith - not seen not hear but believe and when God call obey. A life of surrender that leads to abundance.

The preacher had few pocessions and few money, but when God call for him to gave up his last 400yuan, he did. God provided him the rest and that saw his faith raises. Pastor Edmond also did mentioned about this, obeying God even to the extend on giving up what you think that you need most - money. But God provides.

We went for lunch at Cui Hu for noodles - so so. But I have the chance to speak with a local who is a Christian help in Project Yunnan. I spoke to him about woking in Yunnan and the possiblity of setting up a business here. He too share on how he came to know Christ and his work.

After lunch we went to a rehab center in a run down neighbour. As the place was crowded, I wnet around praying and taking photos of the children in the neighbour. Compare with the level of hygiene, Singapore is a heaven.

The seesions saw a convert. The people were open and they shared openly. I sit in with the singles group and shared about my waiting for Rachael and how is it to wait on the Lord. I too share about Step who choose not to marry someone of different faith. I ended with how God has bless her with two kids Jo and Deb, as her "own".

I managed to pray with some with the un-smooth chinese and was encouraged by the faith of these people and their desires for their love one to come to know Christ. The Lord has therefore confirm the words from my sis about not giving up, but continue to pray for your love ones.

The Church in China is open - very open as compare to many years ago. Bibles are everywhere and the people worhsip freely - but of course - too much agression and provokation in converting others is not allow. I believe in discipleship as the next course of empowering these people. They are hungry. By the sheer number and by their passion, they will carry the gospel to the remote regions of China. We just need to train them. As such, I pray for such work and for such opportunity to be able to pour my live into a few good people.

Dinner was at the rehab and I don't really fancy the chicken rice. The meat was tough, but still eat for appreciation.

We had a debrief, before going out to roam the street. Paul and Clifford brought us to a message - 30 yuan for an hour. I went super with Paul, Samuel and Celiean before home sweet home.

Generally relax and the much is about what God can do through us and in us. Amen

24 May 2008

Morning being early at 0500hrs, with Rachael sending me to the airport.
The first flight took off at 0740 to Bangkok, where we made our transit to Yunnan.

By far it has been lesiure. Everyone was well taken care off. A bus was catered for us to fetch us to the hotel, dinner was catered. It look more like a holiday.

The group of people that I travel with was jovious. Many or in the majority of them were couples with grown up teens.

I came prepared for a rough journey, but so far it has not been so. We had a rest time in the afternoon, after checking into a simle furnish Yunnan University Hotel. I spend my time in the hotel - reading, praying and surfing the net.

After dinner was prayer. The group really engaged God. They seek the Lord with words. I am wrong about them and forgive me. In my mine, they are very relax, but the way they are serious when it come to God matters really changed my image on them. I have much to learn. They are real.

24 May 2008

Trip to Yunnan (Day 1)

I am now at the airporrt and for the next 7 days I will be at Yunnan, mainly in Kunming.

I leave with a good spirit, nowing that the Lord will guide and lead.

Of course there are still unsettle matters, like the repair work for my house.

I pray that you will also be with Rachael and the family.

I pray that during this trip you will show me - a good encounter with you and that you will further direct my path. If there is things I still need to change - let it be so.

Many changes

A number of transition took place.

The major one is my father was diagnosed with 4th stage of cancer and is currently of chemotherophy at home. But because of the tonxic drugs, I pray that the other family members will be keep safe from it, especially my little children.

We have shifted into father's house. This was after we sold our 414 flat. The 329 flat is small which is OK. But with the recent development, the small house make it easier for any virus spread. I pray that in the event, such as now, when the children are sick, they will not spread the germs to father. Chemotherophy make him weak and easily infected.

Rachael has resigned. She is currently on part time assginment with 2 universities. I pray that she will adjust well to her timing. I pray that she may have more time with the children.

The shifting house, and all the event, coouple with more workload, I found myself short of concentration in my forex business. It need to grow and I need someone whom I can trust to take over. I pray for that someone that is capable of taking over this business and run it well. I want to spend sometime growing the other area on training, education and soliciting for more resources.

The house still need repair before hand over I pray that the contractor will do a good job and I pray that the response be prompt. We have shift house earlier to make the repair easier.

I am also making a trip to China. It will be a good time to witness the work of God. I pray for humility and to allow God work in my heart. I do not know how God will lead, but I pray that He will show me what further work I can do there. send the people whom I will meet.

Yes all these transition, but God is still my Lord. In Him I can trust that has bless the works of my hand.

IDT Memory Verse Part 5

1 John 2:15-16
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.

1 Peter 2:9-10
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Col 1:28-29
28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

1 Cor 15:58
58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

3 John 4,11
4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
11 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.

Col 3:1-3
3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Sabbath is not Sunday

Today as I read Luke 23:44-24:12, you will see tha answers that Sabbath is not on Sunday.

Jesus live and die in the Roman era. We are also using the Roman calander.

On the day Jesus die - which day is it? Easter is celebrated on Friday. Luke 23: 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments.
On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

Jesus die on Sabbath - Friday.

24:1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.

What is the first day of the week? Sunday. No wonder the ladies recall what Jesus said, Luke 24: 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.”

So Friday the first day, Saturday the second, Sunday is the thrid.

So it confirmed that Sabbath is not on Sunday but on Friday. So how it the 'Sunday Sabbath Rest' comes about?

I am not against Sunday, but the truth has to be correct. The Roman Catholic Church when they made Christainity as the main religion, change it to Sunday - the first day of the week.

Regardless, let us not be too concern about the works of men. The intended purpose of Sabbath is for us - rest. By resting, we trust God that He is able and will provide. Jesus said in Mat 12:8 For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath

That very statement pointed to us that Jesus is the rest, and by being Lord of the Sabbath, He is God, the giver of Sabbath and the provider on Sabbath.

How many of us actually rest - physically rested in the Lord? Teach what is important to our children and don't argue the works of men for the sake of religion truth. Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath!

Biblical Priorities (R&W 7)

Roots and Wings - Bibilcal Priorities

Our Human Weakness is our chronic busyness.
Luke 10:41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. [1] Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

We are always driven by activities and as a result majoring the minor - the resulting problem.
2 Tim 3:1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.

We have a form of godliness, but denying its power.
We need a radical re-orientation, which is putting first thing first.
Mat 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

What is this kingdom - it is about Jesus (the king). His reign, rule, relationship and righteousness. Relationship is about us and Jesus.

Righteousness is about options:
Choosing between Good and Evil
Choosing between Good and Best
Chossing between Good and God

When we choose to seek His kingdom and his righteousness FIRST - it is the critical need we are reuired.

The critical need is Majoring the major
1 Cor 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

SIA - steadfast; immovable; abounding

Finally, the empowered life of roots and wings is about sharpening our axe and our saw!
Ecc 10:10 If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge,he must use more strength,but wisdom helps one to succeed.

IDT Memory verse Part 4

Mat 6:19-20 ; Psalm 90:1-2
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust [1] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal

90:1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place [1]in all generations.2 Before the mountains were brought forth,or ever you had formed the earth and the world,from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

Isa 40:28-29 ; Isa 40:30-31
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard?The Lord is the everlasting God,the Creator of the ends of the earth.He does not faint or grow weary;his understanding is unsearchable.29 He gives power to the faint,and to him who has no might he increases strength.30 Even youths shall faint and be weary,and young men shall fall exhausted;31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;they shall mount up with wings like eagles;they shall run and not be weary;they shall walk and not faint.

1 Cor 10:12-13
12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Phi 3:7-14

7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

IDT Memory verse Part 3

Mat 7:7
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Mat 7:24
Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock


Isa 40:31
But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Isa 60:22
The least one shall become a clan, and the smallest one a mighty nation; I am the LORD; in its time I will hasten it.


Isa 53:6
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isa 55:6
Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;


Isa 45:2-3
I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who call you by your name.
Isa 41:9-10
You whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, "You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off"; fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.


Isa 46:9-10
Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me,declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,'
Isa 6:8
And I hear the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me."

IDT Memory verse Part 2

Psa 23:1; Pro 3:5-6
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,and do not lean on your own understanding.6 In all your ways acknowledge him,and he will make straight your paths

Mat 4:19 ; Mat 5:13
And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet

Mat 5:14, 16 ; Mat 5:20
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven

For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Mat6:1 ; Mat 6:33
Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Mat6:24 ; Mat 7:1
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money

Judge not, that you be not judged

IDT memory verse Part 1

Rom 3:23; Rom 6:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 3:16; John 5:24
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

John 14:6; Heb 9:27
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

2 Tim 3:16, 1 John 5:11-12
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness

And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

2 Cor 5:7; Gal 2:20
for we walk by faith, not by sight

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Biblical Values (R&W 6)

Roots and Wings 6 - Biblical Values

Our Human Weakness is that we are going with the flow
Ecc1:4 A generation goes, and a generation comes,but the earth remains forever.5 The sun rises, and the sun goes down,and hastens [1] to the place where it rises.6 The wind blows to the southand goes around to the north;around and around goes the wind,and on its circuits the wind returns.7 All streams run to the sea,but the sea is not full;to the place where the streams flow,there they flow again.8 All things are full of weariness;a man cannot utter it;the eye is not satisfied with seeing,nor the ear filled with hearing.9 What has been is what will be,and what has been done is what will be done,and there is nothing new under the sun.10 Is there a thing of which it is said,“See, this is new”?It has been alreadyin the ages before us.11 There is no remembrance of former things, [2]nor will there be any remembranceof later things [3] yet to beamong those who come after.

As a result, the problem becomes that we live a life of "switched price tags"
Luke 9:24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?

We need a radical re-orientation, that is setting our minds on things above
Col 3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

The critical need is for us to make wise choices
John 21:15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

So that we can live a empowered life lke new wines and new wineskins
Luke 5:36 He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. 38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39 And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’”

Biblical Purpose (R&W 5)

Roots and Wings 5 - Biblical Purpose

1. Our Human Weakness is that we are steering without a compass
Ecc 2:4 I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. 5 I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. 6 I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. 8 I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, [1] the delight of the children of man.
9 So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. 10 And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. 11 Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

2. As a result, the problem is a road that leads to nowhere
Ecc 1:2 Vanity [1] of vanities, says the Preacher,vanity of vanities! All is vanity.3 What does man gain by all the toilat which he toils under the sun?

3. We therefore need a radical re-orientation and that requires us to find that purpose through prayer
Mark 1:32 That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, 37 and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” 38 And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.”

4. The critical need is for a pupose driven life
2 Tim 4:6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

5. So that we can live an empowered life of roots and wings, staying purpose-focused
Col 1:28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

Sermon 17 Feb 2008

2 Cor 1:6-11

6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, [1] of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

The key points are:
1. That which you must face - sufferings is ineveitable (v6)
2. That which you must know - that we serve a God who is meriful (v7)
3. That which you must want - to do the will of God (v8)
4. That which you must do - to put your trust in God (v9)
5. That which you must hold fast - to the promises of God (v10)

During a bad day or a situation, remember God has a plan, as witness by Pastor Edmond's testimony on BKE when his car broke down.

Take home song: Don Moen's God Will make a Way.

In the same way, I pray for Rachael, as she prepares her lessons. Yes, tough, but Lord, you know the plans for her. That the suffering and discomfort are part and parcel of your plan and of course, I pray that Rachael will comes out well and be strengthened by the process. Help her, Lord.

In the same way, I pray for myself - Isa 43: 19 Behold, I am doing a new thing;now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

I want to claim this promise, that even I step out and enter a dry and unknown place, the Lord, my God will create a roadway in the wilderness and river in the desert. That the day will come and when I look back, I will remember the path and the trail that the Lord has prepared for me and my family.

Biblical Identity (R&W 4) Reflections

15 Feb 2008

1. We are preoccupied with self
The Ephesian church began well, but when revelation came, the church was critized for "But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first." We all began well, enthusastic for the Lord, but when the worldly pleasure and pressure comes in, we are being absorbed.

Lust, pride and money are some of the cautions I have always to guard against. Pride is about self, the ego of being someone, attain some status.

The pursuit of the things, the pleasure and the pressure, make us lost in the world. The more preoccupied we are and concern for ourself, the more we fail to pop out our head above the cancopy of worldly life and see what is beyond.

2. We end up loving the world
16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions

We end up loving the world and down we went for a spin. These desires are not from the Father and moreover, 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires

I want, I need, I have... is all I and the worst is that these end with the world. Therefore pursuit the things not of this world, so that our focus is not to elevate self, but Christ.

So easily said than done. The peer pressure, the comaprisons.. the wants, the status... all serve to motivate us in the pursuit of self actualization than Christ centered. How?

3. We need to recognize that we are chosen by God
God has chosen us - for a special purpose. See the wow? No? then seek the wow! How can a soldier for Christ be preoccupied with worldly matters?

Know that God chose us. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Don't know? Then know it. That focus on who we are in Christ. We know God, we pledge our allegiance to Him, that's where we find our identity in Him. We need to go back, go back to the stage we we first know God and know His calling and His intention for each one of us. He called us - know that - and chose us.

Stop here and ponder and go back - your encounter with God, the blessings He showered you, know Him again and seek Him again.

4. Live life with God's power
2 Pet 1:3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness
Ask for it, asl for the Holy Spirit. Break away from our old self, have a radical change.

If we continue to live life as we used to be, there will be no transformation. Christ need to be in us. We need to pop out, we need to elevate out of this worldly cancopy and live a life not focus on self but Christ.

How? For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, [3] and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

A lot of work - but a change is needed. A conscious effect is needed, so that we preoccupied with the matters of God and Christ and slowly these vitues become part of us.

5. A life of faith
We put trust not in self, not seeking the comfort with the self and world, but live a life in christ and through faith. It's time to soar.

40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect

We know God, we know His provisions. Pursue Him and know that all will be well. Put faith in things that seem so far away, but cling onto the promise and hope God called and given to us.

Don't know? Ask.

Each day is a journey. It will become part of us, if we choose to walk in faith and not in self, we learn to rely on Him. Fatih grows and we grow together in Him

Valentine Day

It has been years, that we have not celebrate valentine day on valentine day itself.

Yesterday, though it was a boo boo, I enjoyed the dinner with Rachael. Going out to town at night was a different sight - couples everywhere. Well it's not good for man to be alone, but, even so, not many were able to be bless with a partner. It was supposed to be a blessings from Rachael colleague, who said that the dinner was all paid. We don't celebrate valentine day on valentine day itself, we have planned for it next Saturday. Well it end up, I paid for the dinner. Expensive, but a memorial one after so many years.

I pray and thank God for Rachael, whom I knew since 19 Mar 1997, married on 29 May 1999. I pray for more years together and even as we plan for our ten years anniversary, I pray that we will always cherish each other.

Biblical Identity (R&W 4)

Roots and Wings (4) - Biblical Identity

The Human problem or the root issue is that we are too preoccupied with self.
Rev 2:1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
2 “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’

As a result, the visible symptoms is that we end up loving the world.
1 Jn 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

For a radical reorientation, we need to recognize that we are chosen by God.
1Pet 2:4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture:
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,a cornerstone chosen and precious,and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,
“The stone that the builders rejectedhas become the cornerstone,” [1]
8 and
“A stone of stumbling,and a rock of offense.”
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Then as a critical need, how we need to live now is to live a life with God's power.
2 Pet 1:3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to [1] his own glory and excellence, [2] 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, [3] and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities [4] are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

From there we live a life of faith, an empowered life, a life with roots and wings.
Heb 11:32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, [1] they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Deborah's Birthday and Fever!

My little girl turned 2 on the 4 Feb 2008.

But starting on the 30th Jan, Deborah fell sick. She was down with fever wnd has no other symptoms. With medicine, taking after much hoaxing every 6 hours, the fever subsided. All in all, the fever lasted for almost 5 days. The last two days was worst. She has light cought coupled with running nose. Being unsure of her situation, I stay up late to make sure her fever do not go too high.

In celebration of her birthday, my family book a chalet at Pasir Ris Downtown East from Sunday 3 Feb to 5 Feb. Bad timing, but giving thanks to God, in between the medicine (4 hours), we mamanged to squeeze some activities for the kids. The family had a good time at the Explorer Kids, a place for climbing and ball pool. Deborah really enjoyed herself. We went at about 8pm and the place, being also Sunday, was nearly empty. Debroah was able to climb around by herself without fear of runinng over by older kids. Moreover, at that last hour of operation, Rachael and myself also join in, as the attendents close their eyes.

Thanks given to Racheal for taking care by carrying Deborah. Deborah had problem sleeping as her nose was blocked and her had to breath through her mouth and cannot lie flat.

Monday was her birthday, but the fever still comes. When her grandparents and Rachael's sister came to celebrate Deborah birthday, she happen to be in between her fever cycle. Quickly we had cake cutting and candle blowing and photo taking. She like it. Lunch was terrible as the fever was back. Both Rachael and myself do not finished the lunch at Sakae Sushi.

Aternoon, Josef prayed for good weather and God granted it. He had a great time at Wild Wild Wet with Stephanie.

Evening, we went Changi Point for dinner. Praise God, Deborah after her afternoon anp, she seemed better. After dinner, I brought her for a some motor car ride, She drives very well all by herself!

The children left for home with the grandparents, supposedly to leave time for Rachael and myself. But no good. I fell sick!

I continued to be sick for the next few days. It was so bad for me that on the first day of new year on Thursday, I had to go on drip. I had headaches and it made me a need to lie down. I was very quiet at reunion dinner and did not go anywhere the next few days. Finally, energy is back on Saturday evening and today 10 Feb, I am well.

But, but, but, Rachael also fell sick. Her fever start on the first day of new year and I belive it will last till next Tuesday. Thank God, she has no headache, running nose or cough. So in between the fever cycle, she can still do her tuitoring presentation materials. She has no appetite.

The worst has yet been over, Josef began to fell sick yesterday. As a child, fever is a terrible thing and he vomit. We have to make sure he has enough water.

Who will be next? My father or my maid?

Biblical Allegiance (R&W 3)

Roots and Wings 3 - 29 Jan 2008

Our allegiance is about you do we regard our master in life to be. Of course it has to be God, but the problem is, our human problem is we drive with our brakes on.
Luke 9:57-62 57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 And Jesus [1] said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

The passage talks about the cost of following Jesus. By driving with our brakes on we we mot pledge ou full allegiance to God and when confronted with the cost of following Jesus, we hesitate - no full acceleration. As a results we live a "cheap grace" discipleship.
1 Cor 10:1-11 10:1 For I want you to know, brothers, [1] that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” 8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ [2] to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.

What is meant by "cheap grace" discipleship? 1 Cor 10 is about idolatry. Our allegiance is partial. Yes Jesus is our master, but its OK for something else, we compromise and think that is is OK. We therefore has to die fully to ourselves.
Luke 9:23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Take up the cross and follow Christ. Our allegiance can only be full if we choose to take up the cross and follow him wholeheartedly, and by dying, we put all past behind and thus forsake all others. Doing so required us to live as radical, rather than respectable.
Luke 14:25-35 25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
34 “Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? 35 It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Luke 14 is about the cost od being a disciple of Christ. People see us and reflect the image of who do we master after. We model after our master, living a life with only one aspiration.
Phil 3:7-14 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

From the problem in our allegiance (putting on brakes) and thus displaying a "cheap grace" discipleship as a resulting symptoms, we need to radical reorientate by recognizing we must die to ourselves. The crtical need to reflected in our we ought to live, whihc is to live as radical, rather than respectable, which leads to a life with roots and wings, an empowered life with one aspiration.

Biblical Theology (R&W 2)

Roots and Wings 2 - 28 Jan 2008

The Human Problem is we fear loosing control
1 Sam 15:1-23 15:1 And Samuel said to Saul, “The Lord sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel; now therefore listen to the words of the Lord. 2 Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt. 3 Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction [1] all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”
4 So Saul summoned the people and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand men on foot, and ten thousand men of Judah. 5 And Saul came to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley. 6 Then Saul said to the Kenites, “Go, depart; go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them. For you showed kindness to all the people of Israel when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. 7 And Saul defeated the Amalekites from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt. 8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive and devoted to destruction all the people with the edge of the sword. 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves [2] and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction.
10 The word of the Lord came to Samuel: 11 “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments.” And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the Lord all night. 12 And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning. And it was told Samuel, “Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself and turned and passed on and went down to Gilgal.” 13 And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed be you to the Lord. I have performed the commandment of the Lord.” 14 And Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen that I hear?” 15 Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice to the Lord your God, and the rest we have devoted to destruction.” 16 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stop! I will tell you what the Lord said to me this night.” And he said to him, “Speak.”
17 And Samuel said, “Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel. 18 And the Lord sent you on a mission and said, ‘Go, devote to destruction the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ 19 Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you pounce on the spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the Lord?” 20 And Saul said to Samuel, “I have obeyed the voice of the Lord. I have gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. 21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.” 22 And Samuel said,
“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,as in obeying the voice of the Lord?Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,and to listen than the fat of rams.23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination,and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry.Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,he has also rejected you from being king.”

As a result we give piece-meal surrender to God.
Gen 22:1-13 22:1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy [1] will go over there and worship and come again to you.” 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here am I, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.
9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.

What we need to recognize, which give us the radical reorientation is for us to recognize we need spiritual eyesight.
2 Kings 6:8-18 8 Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servants, saying, “At such and such a place shall be my camp.” 9 But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there.” 10 And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he saved himself there more than once or twice.
11 And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?” 12 And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” 13 And he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him.” It was told him, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” 14 So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city.
15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 18 And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha.

The critical need for us as to how we should live is for us to live a life with God's wisdom.
1 Kings 3:5-15 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” 6 And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. 7 And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. 9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”
10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12 behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. 13 I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. 14 And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”
15 And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.

The empowered life is a life that knows who God is.
Isa 40:27-31 27 Why do you say, O Jacob,and speak, O Israel,“My way is hidden from the Lord,and my right is disregarded by my God”?28 Have you not known? Have you not heard?The Lord is the everlasting God,the Creator of the ends of the earth.He does not faint or grow weary;his understanding is unsearchable.29 He gives power to the faint,and to him who has no might he increases strength.30 Even youths shall faint and be weary,and young men shall fall exhausted;31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;they shall mount up with wings like eagles;they shall run and not be weary;they shall walk and not faint.

Vital Spirituality (R&W 1)

Roots and Wings (1) - 28 Jan 2008

Frankly, I don not understand the link. The root problem is on our spirituality and the problem is due to a stagnant spirit. It goes on in the passages and verses calling us not to secularize our spirituality and not to be run on empty. OK with that, but what has that to do with living a life that is not emporal but live a life for external?

What has our spirituality do with begin anxious and what has the solution to our root problem on not to worry and thus being able to live a life for eternal.

Yes, I understand about a worry -free life, a life worth living for eternal, but what has that to do with my problem on false spirituality?

The Human problem: The root issue is we have a stagnant spirit.
Zeph 1:12 At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps,and I will punish the menwho are complacent, those who say in their hearts,‘The Lord will not do good,nor will he do ill.’

As a result, the visible symptoms is that we end up with a secularized spirituality.
Mat 6:1-8 6:1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

We need to recognize that we are running on empty. This is a radical reorientation we need to see.
Jer2:5-18 5 Thus says the Lord: “What wrong did your fathers find in methat they went far from me,and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?6 They did not say, ‘Where is the Lordwho brought us up from the land of Egypt,who led us in the wilderness,in a land of deserts and pits,in a land of drought and deep darkness,in a land that none passes through,where no man dwells?’7 And I brought you into a plentiful landto enjoy its fruits and its good things.But when you came in, you defiled my landand made my heritage an abomination.8 The priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’Those who handle the law did not know me;the shepherds [1] transgressed against me;the prophets prophesied by Baaland went after things that do not profit. 9 “Therefore I still contend with you,declares the Lord,and with your children's children I will contend.10 For cross to the coasts of Cyprus and see,or send to Kedar and examine with care;see if there has been such a thing.11 Has a nation changed its gods,even though they are no gods?But my people have changed their gloryfor that which does not profit.12 Be appalled, O heavens, at this;be shocked, be utterly desolate,declares the Lord,13 for my people have committed two evils:they have forsaken me,the fountain of living waters,and hewed out cisterns for themselves,broken cisterns that can hold no water. 14 “Is Israel a slave? Is he a homeborn servant?Why then has he become a prey?15 The lions have roared against him;they have roared loudly.They have made his land a waste;his cities are in ruins, without inhabitant.16 Moreover, the men of Memphis and Tahpanheshave shaved [2] the crown of your head.17 Have you not brought this upon yourselfby forsaking the Lord your God,when he led you in the way?18 And now what do you gain by going to Egyptto drink the waters of the Nile?Or what do you gain by going to Assyriato drink the waters of the Euphrates?

Should we therefore continue to live the way we used to be - a secularized spirituality and running on empty? No in order to soar, we need to live life beyond the temporal. If we don't have God in our live, there is no roots, there is no point trying to create the appearance that we have it and continue living a life acting on it. We recognize that without God we are empty, our spirit life is empty. This is then how we should live - live a life beyond the temporal. For without the vital spirituality, we are living in a life in temporal (acting, empty and never beyond).
90:1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place [1]in all generations.2 Before the mountains were brought forth,or ever you had formed the earth and the world,from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3 You return man to dustand say, “Return, O children of man!” [2]4 For a thousand years in your sightare but as yesterday when it is past,or as a watch in the night.
5 You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,like grass that is renewed in the morning:6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;in the evening it fades and withers.
7 For we are brought to an end by your anger;by your wrath we are dismayed.8 You have set our iniquities before you,our secret sins in the light of your presence.
9 For all our days pass away under your wrath;we bring our years to an end like a sigh.10 The years of our life are seventy,or even by reason of strength eighty;yet their span [3] is but toil and trouble;they are soon gone, and we fly away.11 Who considers the power of your anger,and your wrath according to the fear of you?
12 So teach us to number our daysthat we may get a heart of wisdom.13 Return, O Lord! How long?Have pity on your servants!14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,and for as many years as we have seen evil.16 Let your work be shown to your servants,and your glorious power to their children.17 Let the favor [4] of the Lord our God be upon us,and establish the work of our hands upon us;yes, establish the work of our hands!

The empowered life is a life with roots and wings, a life that lives for eternal.
Mat 6:19-34 19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust [1] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. [2]
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? [3] 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

1 Jan 2008

Last year, all glory goes to God.

I shared in December 2006, about plans for 2007. Yes indeed, for 2007, my business in forex has taken off. The techniques and trading method used has prove to be effective and for this year, I will set up a company to turn this self-employed business to a business entity. I will train "kinsmen" the trade so that they will learn the trade and continue or take over the business if necessary.

My resolution for this year is to increase my family networth to be over a USD1 million using leverages and innovative ways so that to spend more time with family and in His kingdom.